‘As close to free as you can get’: All public transport trips in Qld to cost 50c

The news

All public transport trips across Queensland will become “as close to free as you can get” in the state government’s latest effort to ease cost-of-living pressures, inflation, and traffic congestion.

A flat fare of 50 cents will apply to all Translink trips statewide from August 5, in a “use it or lose it” six-month trial that Premier Steven Miles hopes will become permanent.

“If this is effective, if this reduces congestion and sees lots of people get back on public transport, then obviously we’ll consider making it permanent,” Premier Steven Miles said.Credit: Matt Dennien

“I expect this will save Queenslanders thousands of dollars over six months,” he said of the significantly bigger move than the 2024 fare freeze revealed when he took the top job in December.

The measure comes as Brisbane City Council launches new CityCat services to the popular Howard Smith Wharves precinct from Monday.

Why it matters

The announcement comes as Miles’ third-term Labor government prepares for its June budget and the October state election amid cost-of-living pressures for households and political pressure from the Greens, who pushed for a three-month free fare trial at March’s council election.

Commuting and travel costs will be cut dramatically for many, with five days of return journeys of any distance to and from work to cost just $5, compared with examples cited by the government of $39 a week from Goodna to the CBD, or $114 from Robina.

The government noted that a single bus can take 50 cars off the road, with a train able to remove 600. Meanwhile, public transport use is still about 13 per cent below pre-pandemic levels.

What they said

At a media conference in Brisbane, Miles said the government planned a major communications campaign to encourage people to travel by public transport.

“And part of the message to them will be, this is use it or lose it. If this is effective, if this reduces congestion and sees lots of people get back on public transport, then obviously we’ll consider making it permanent. If it doesn’t work … it won’t continue,” Miles said.

While the option of free trips was discussed, the premier said a small fee was important to ensure people tapped on and off or bought tickets to provide usage data to review the outcome of the trial and manage the network of buses, trains, ferries and light rail.

If this is successful, we may well see crowded services  – and that would be a good result for the trial, and we will do what we can to manage that as quickly as we can.

Premier Steven Miles

Miles said the government would be “very pleased” if usage returned to pre-pandemic levels (adjusted for subsequent population growth), with road congestion data also in focus.

The August 5 start date was set to allow time for preparations on already-busy services.

Perspectives

Speaking alongside Miles, RACQ chief executive David Carter welcomed the announcement as part of the organisation’s long-established policy that public transport needed to be more affordable, convenient and flexible.

LNP deputy leader Jarrod Bleijie said the opposition supported the measure but labelled its six-month timeframe a “cynical” election ploy.

He said the reliability and frequency of services also needed to be addressed, along with extending them to more areas.

Greens Maiwar MP Michael Berkman accused Labor of “half-heartedly” taking on his party’s policies, while his South Brisbane colleague, Amy MacMahon, said it would be cheaper to “just switch off the fare machines”.

Rail Tram and Bus Union Queensland branch secretary Peter Allen said: “Announcements like this will go a long way to encouraging more people to use public transport.”