MEDIA STATEMENT: The Crisafulli Government Makes 50 Cent Public Transport Fares Permanent

The Crisafulli Government Makes 50 Cent Public Transport Fares Permanent

• The Crisafulli Government is making 50 cent public transport fares permanent on all Translink networks across Queensland.
• Locking-in 50c fares delivers on a commitment in the Government’s 100 Day Plan and will provide cost-of-living relief for Queenslanders.
• The initiative has driven an increase in public transport patronage while keeping millions in Queenslanders’ pockets.

The Crisafulli Government has locked-in 50 cent fares permanently, delivering key cost of living relief for Queenslanders. 

The Department of Transport and Main Roads will now make the LNP’s 50 cent fares permanent on all Translink public transport networks in Queensland.

After fulfilling a key commitment outlined in the Crisafulli Government’s 100 Day Plan, Queenslanders will now permanently continue to travel on South East Queensland (SEQ) bus, train, tram and ferry services, as well as Translink urban bus networks across the state, for a flat 50 cent fare.

The initiative has driven an increase in public transport patronage across the state and helped keep money in the pockets of Queenslanders, with more than $110 million saved by public transport users since the start of 50 cent fares, based on the same number of trips being taken under the previous fare structure.

Buses, trains, trams and ferries in SEQ have all carried more passengers since the start of 50 cent fares with regional bus networks also seeing an increase in passenger numbers.

Minister for Transport and Main Roads Brent Mickelberg said the Crisafulli Government was keeping its commitment to Queenslanders to make 50 cent fares permanent.

“This is a great day for Queenslanders with the cheapest public transport fares in the state’s modern history here to stay,” Minister Mickelberg said.

“Labor used 50 cent fares as an election toy while the Crisafulli Government saw the real benefit for Queenslanders.

“The increased public transport patronage across all modes while Queenslanders have kept more than $110 million in their pockets.

“I have a clear focus to deliver better public transport options for all Queenslanders, to get them to school and work on time and home to their families faster.

“I would like to thank public transport staff and operators across Queensland for their support in successfully implementing 50 cent fares.”

Fast facts:

• Public transport users have saved more than $100 million since the introduction of 50 cent fares, based on the same number of trips being taken under the previous fare structure.
• Patronage increased on all modes of SEQ public transport between August 5 and the end of October:

• Bus: Increase of 14.3 per cent on the same period in 2023.
• Train: Increase of 17.9 per cent on the same period in 2023.
• Gold Coast Light Rail: Increase of 22.1 per cent on the same period in 2023.
• Ferries (Brisbane River and Southern Moreton Bay Islands): Increase of 43.9 per cent on the same period in 2023.
• SEQ across all modes: Increase of 16.7 per cent on the same period in 2023.

• SEQ public transport patronage between August 5 and the end of October was up 5.1 per cent on the same period pre-COVID.
• The initiative made an immediate impact:

• The number of trips between Monday, August 5 and Sunday, August 11 was up over 11 per cent on the week before 50 cent fares started.
• SEQ patronage across all modes on the weekend of 17th and 18th August recorded, for the first time, over 700,000 trips taken in a weekend period – leading to the busiest weekend on the SEQ network in history.

ENDS

Media Contact: Sophie Cassidy 0484 620 899