What you said about new 50c public transport fares across Qld

Queenslanders have been quick to put their two cents into the state’s new 50 cent public transport fares – and it’s mixed news. HAVE YOUR SAY

TransLink says it is “operationally ready” for the start of a six-month trial of 50 cent public fares which starts Monday. Picture: Patria Jannides

Queenslanders have been quick to put their two cents into the state’s new 50 cent public transport fares – and it’s mixed news.

It was revealed on Monday morning that those hoping to take advantage of cut price transport fares will have to use their Go Card on buses or be left in the lurch amid ongoing delays to the smart ticketing program.

It can be revealed the public transport ticketing program will now cost nearly $400m and take a total of seven years to complete amid cost and time blowouts.

TransLink’s smart ticketing program, allowing commuters to tap on and off public transport using credit and debit cards and mobile devices will now cost $22.8 million more than originally planned, the state government has confirmed.

Commuters will still need to have a Go Card to board a bus for the discount fare of 50c.

This comes amid an extension of the project timeline to mid-2025 — despite being announced in mid-2018 with a promise of delivery in four years.

News of the latest drama sparked a war of words from readers.

Many claimed it was yet another Labor mess, while others suggested the vote-grab plan may backfire.

Others said regional areas continue to fund those in the city, while some even insisted it’s time Queenslanders started being glass half-full with the fares.

See what you had to say and join the conversation below >>>

WHAT YOU SAID

Won’t make a difference

Concerned QLDer

Again, so many people are seen travelling without paying. Will they have to pay now???

Bruce

I catch the bus and hardly anyone taps on What makes you think this will change now it’s 50c

Kim

and why are they calling it a ‘trial’?.....it will never be made permanent, never.

RogerJ

Where is all the Labor rust on brigade? Always talking about cost overruns with the LNP? Can’t organise a chook raffle and all that talk? Credit card tap ons have been up and running in NSW for years. So many expensive cost overruns on a repetitive basis. Everything they touch never works out as planned. So much for the hired consultants and contracts.

Minister for Transport and Main Roads Bart Mellish on Sunday. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

I love it!

matty

Everyone is so negative. Why can’t you all appreciate the 50c trips? It’ll help allot of people.

Palani

This is a best measure to tackle cost of living pressure and help communities to use public transport.

Carnbee

What is it that causes some few people to highlight the 0.5% downside to a happy new initiative rather than giving thanks for the 99.5 upside. That’s not even “glass half full” approach.

Another Labor mess

wayne

Cheap selfish political stunt

Concerned QLDer

Again, so many people are seen travelling without paying. Will they have to pay now???

Kron

Colossal and disgusting waste of taxpayer’s money.

Linda

Nothing but a Miles vote grab! Mr

Dave

Voting Labor for 6 months of cheap 50c fares will result in 4 more years of failures, $billion cost blowouts, increases in everything, few achievements, no changes in youth justice, health, housing and a dud Labor Govt.

Bart Mellish with Roman Gafa, TransLink busway operations director. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

What about the regions?

Stereo-always pending

What a joke; of course we can’t buy the system NSW uses after Giggles grandstanding, when he tore up the NSW Covid accommodation bill! 50 cent fares? Certainly not in the regions; we don’t even have public transport, but are still subsidising SEQ!

Layne

Yeh, once again Rural Taxpayers fund the city folk, it’s gunna stop one day

peter

Just trying to get relected using everybody in the States money. Again the public transport is non existent in our area. So we pay for SEQ again.B/S

Mark

For all of us that don’t have public transport, tough luck, we get the bill but not the service. What a joke this lot are.

Originally published as What you said about new 50c public transport fares across Qld