Editor of university newspaper promotes fare evasion as ‘the government can afford it’
A SYDNEY university’s student newspaper has been slammed by the Transport Minister for “outright stupidity” after printing a how-to guide to fare evasion on public transport. The paper targets train stations and provides strategies for students to distract drivers.
NSW
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SYDNEY University’s student newspaper has been slammed by the Transport Minister for “outright stupidity” after printing a how-to guide to fare evasion on public transport.
The latest edition of Honi Soit — published at the prestigious sandstone university for almost 90 years — includes a full page of detailed instructions and tips on ways to illegally ride buses and trains for free.
The article entitled “State of Non-Compliance” describes how to bypass Opal reader gates at train stations, singling out a glass gate at Wynyard station as vulnerable, and provides strategies for students to distract drivers when boarding buses.
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It advises evaders to join Facebook groups which provide regular updates on the whereabouts of ticket-checking transport officers or TOs, describing them as “the natural enemy”.
“If you’re on a train, you can normally see TOs as you draw up to the platform, and unless they walk onto your carriage it’s normally possible to avoid them before the next stop by moving through carriages,” it says.
“If they’re loitering outside the gate at your destination, wait it out in the toilets until they’ve moved on … even if you are caught if you run away it’s possible they won’t give chase.”
Authors Liam Donohoe, an editor of the paper, and Liam Thorne justify encouraging fare evasion by arguing the government can afford it and public transport should be free.
“No one should feel guilty about evading fares, especially those among us who have no other option,” they write.
“You’re not going to harm the state’s bottom line if you don’t buy a ticket.
The government estimates it loses $80 million each year to fare evasion, which is a fraction of the $1.2 billion it made from passenger services this year.”
Transport Minister Andrew Constance said the article was unacceptable.
“These guys come along and actively encourage (fare evading) — it’s outright stupidity,” he said.
“(They) should be spending more time on their studies and less time encouraging people to break the law. The average adult passenger fare only covers about 25 per cent of the actual cost of running it. Plus with student concessions and Opal discounts, public transport is affordable. Anyone not doing the right thing will be caught.”
The Honi Soit editorial team said it did not support fare evasion and the article was meant to be “satirical”, pointing to a subheading that reads “this is definitely not how to fare evade”. But despite this, the story goes on to detail how to do it.
A Sydney University spokeswoman said it did not condone illegal behaviour and reminded students “that fare evasion is a crime.” But it said Honi Soit’s editorial decisions were independent.