Cairns public transport needs more buses amid calls for transparency on 50c fares

The declaration of permanently instating 50c fares comes just weeks after provider Translink stated there were no plans to expand in the Far North due to economics.

Both major parties are backing permanent 50c public transport fares. Picture: Brendan Radke

The Premier’s declaration of permanently instating 50c public transport fares, if re-elected, comes just weeks after service provider Translink stated there were no plans to expand in the Far North.

If made permanent, the scheme — touted as major cost of living relief — would set back taxpayers about $6m per week, or $300m a year, with the opposition also committing to the policy on Sunday.

Despite the $300m outlay seemingly locked in no matter which party wins government, Translink last month told the Cairns Post “public transport services require significant new funding,” when queried about expanding operations.

While questions remain on the benefit of the scheme to regional parts of Queensland, Cairns MP Michael Healy said there had been a 12-14 per cent uptick in bus use in the city since its conception.

There has reportedly been a 12-14 per cent increase of bus use in Cairns since the 50c fares scheme began. Picture: Brendan Radke

Edge Hill resident Jess Braxton who withheld her surname as a regular user of buses, said she was appreciative of the 50c fares, noticing an increase in commuters.

However, regularly travelling between Jensen St and Cairns Central, she said the quality of service needed to drastically improve.

“In the last month there’s been at least four cancellations; you can’t trust it,” she said.

Ms Braxton said the no-show buses meant she would have to wait an hour until the next arrived resulting in multiple medical appointment cancellations.

“An example is on Thursday (last week) the 8.50am bus didn’t turn up; I rang – ‘Oh the bus was cancelled, no driver’.

A regular user of public transport in Cairns says there have been increasing cancellations in the past month. Picture: Brendan Radke

“I ran into a couple of elderly people also waiting, and there was an elderly lady who goes out to the beaches to see her husband who’s in a nursing home.

“She can’t afford taxis and it really puts her out, this is where I get angry because it really puts the elderly out. The whole point of the exercise was to get people out of their cars, well now we need more buses.”

Kinetic, which operates local public buses confirmed recent scheduling had been disrupted bydriver illness.

“Kinetic is actively recruiting in Cairns with four new drivers in training,” a spokeperson said.

“Opportunities are available for experienced bus drivers and those looking for a career change with Kinetic’s Women Up Front and Moving the Mob trainee bus driver programs.”

Cairns MP Michael Healy said he was confident in seeing “announcements about the expansion of our bus network”.

Cairns MP Michael Healy believes there will be an announcement in relation to increasing bus services in Cairns. pic: Lyndon Mechielsen/Courier Mail

“Now I know for a bus service up here, we could do with a little bit more,” he said.

“If we can get more people using public transport, getting them off the roads, we can invest more.”

North Queensland economist Colin Dwyer called for greater transparency towards “who is getting the benefits and what else could we spend these public funds on”.

He said it wasn’t just local southeast residents benefiting from 50c fares, but also visitors to the state’s capital.

“Of great concern, are tourists getting more benefits from this scheme than northern Queenslanders,” Mr Dwyer asked.

Originally published as Cairns public transport needs more buses amid calls for transparency on 50c fares