Public transport passengers win with fare freeze

Passengers will be spared an annual public transport fare increase today following the Newman LNP Government’s decision to freeze fares across Queensland in 2015.

Transport Minister Scott Emerson said the decision to scrap the 2.5 per cent increase due this month, coupled with last year’s historic fares cut, would save passengers hundreds of dollars a year.

“This year’s fare freeze, on top of last year’s five per cent fare reduction, is part of our strong plan to improve the frequency, reliability and affordability of the public transport network,” Mr Emerson said.

“As a result of the Newman LNP Government’s decision to re-invest carbon tax savings back into public transport, families have more money to spend on the things that matter.

“The combined effect of the fare decrease and fare freeze means a regular weekday passenger travelling to work from the Gold Coast to Brisbane will be $443 per year better off.

“In regional Queensland, a regular weekday passenger in Townsville, for example, travelling four zones from Stockland Shopping Centre to Townsville City will save up to $176 a year.”

Mr Emerson said the LNP was delivering on its promise to keep public transport fares as low as possible.

“We know there is still more to do, but only the LNP has a strong plan to ensure public transport is a viable option for Queenslanders ­­- while Labor has no plan and no policies,” Mr Emerson said.

“While we introduced the first state-wide public transport fare cut in Queensland’s history, the former Transport Minister’s legacy was 15 per cent fare increases every year.

“Under the LNP, train reliability has turned around from Labor’s three-year low of 86 per cent to our all-time high of 96 per cent - the best result in the country.”

[ENDS] 5 January 2015

Media contact: Stephanie Shield 0418 186 625