LIBERAL RAIL COMMENTS REVEAL ANTI-REGION AGENDA

Calls by Liberals today for the State Government to consider shutting down Traveltrain services revealed they don’t understand and don’t care about regional Queenslanders, Minister for Transport and Main Roads Paul Lucas said.

Opposition public transport spokesman, Tim Nicholls, told Brisbane radio this morning that the State Government should consider shutting passenger rail services in regional Queensland.

“This reveals just how Brisbane-centric the Liberals are,” Mr Lucas said.

“Opposition Leader Jeff Seeney needs to state categorically whether this is Coalition policy, and if not, he should pull the Liberals into line.”

Mr Lucas said Traveltrain services had carried 327,000 passengers between July 2006 and March 2007.

Total forecast patronage for 2006-07 is 432,000 passengers.

“That’s half a million people that Mr Nicholls wants to leave stranded at the station.”

“Yes, these vital regional Queensland services are subsidised by the State Government. But I remind Mr Nicholls this isn’t his money or mine.

“This money comes from taxpayers in rural and regional Queensland and they have every right to have a say on the services they’re receiving and not have it dictated to them by Liberals who never get out of Brisbane.

“Clearly the Coalition’s public transport spokesman either doesn’t know that South East Queensland public transport fares are also subsidised by the State Government or he doesn’t care.

“Mr Nicholls thinks it’s fine for passengers using Citytrain in his electorate to travel from Hendra or Clayfield on a subsidised fare. But he criticises the State Government for subsidising fares to places like Barcaldine, Blackwater, Home Hill and Ayr.

“Traveltrain provides a vital service for residents of regional towns not serviced by air; or where air travel between regional cities is not discounted. These services are vital to a decentralized state like Queensland.

“If it’s good enough for Clayfield, Mr Nicholls, it’s good enough for Cloncurry.”

Mr Lucas said forecast Traveltrain patronage for 2007-08 was 433,500 people, slightly up on expected numbers for this financial year.

“Around half of the passengers are pensioners travelling on a subsidized fare,” Mr Lucas said.

“Many of them would never be able to afford the airfare – even if services were on offer. Does Mr Nicholls think they should walk?

“Clearly Mr Nicholls doesn’t understand how Traveltrain works.

“The Spirit of the Outback, which departs Brisbane twice a week to travel to Winton stops at 26 towns along the way, including Duaringa, Bluff, Blackwater and Barcaldine to name a few.

“The Coalition needs to come clean on whether it supports services to towns like these.

“If Mr Nicholls believes subsidies should be stopped he should tell us his plan to get people around Queensland.”

Media inquiries: Robert Hoge 3237 1942