Published Monday, 16 July, 2007 at 03:17 PM
JOINT STATEMENT
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Paul Lucas
STATE GOVERNMENT COMMITS TO BUSH TRAVEL SUBSIDIES
The Beattie Government today committed to continuing subsidising rural and remote air and bus services.
Premier Peter Beattie said Cabinet had approved a decision to continue funding the services for up to five years, with Queensland Transport to work with air and bus operators to improve services.
Mr Beattie said contracts for regional transport service subsidies would be adjusted in line with feedback from local communities.
In 2006-07, the government provided $7.8 million to subsidise air services, and $2.4 million for long distance bus services, to 73 regional, rural and remote communities.
"Queensland has by far the most extensive program of subsidised travel for regional communities in Australia – no other State comes close," Mr Beattie said.
"We do it because this government is committed to ensuring that rural and remote communities have access to essential medical, educational and business services in major regional centres.
“It's about ensuring the quality of life of people who choose to live in remote communities is not diminished.
"Many communities are a long way from regional centres so affordable public transport services – whether by air or bus – are vital to them.”
Mr Beattie said the government had exclusive air service contracts with MacAir and Qantas Link to operate 10 regional air routes, which carried 223,000 passengers in 2006-07 on about 7800 services.
Subsidised long distance coaches carried 118,000 passengers in 2006-07 on about 6000 services travelling more than four million kilometres.
Minister for Transport and Main Roads Paul Lucas said today’s decision enables Queensland Transport to call tenders for the continuation of long distance bus and air services currently provided to regional Queensland over the next five years.
“As the new tenders are progressed QT will work with service providers to improve the services that customers receive and the integration of services,” he said.
New services enhancements which will be developed and implemented over the first two to three years of the new contracts include:
• ensuring passenger terminals are provided for government supported services at key locations such as Toowoomba and Rockhampton for bus services,
• helping smaller operators provide internet ticket sale capability for the convenience of customers,
• improve the connections between air, bus and rail services to provide better integration
• increased marketing of long distance services to ensure regional communities are aware of the services available with minimum marketing
• to plan with operators the future upgrades of aircraft used on regional services in Queensland, with fleet replacement and larger aircraft where services are growing.
Mr Lucas said the subsidies were vital for a large, decentralized state like Queensland.
“Queensland has the highest percentage of population outside a capital city than any Australian state,” Mr Lucas said.
“The State Government subsidises services from Horn Island in the north to Birdsville in the west and Thargomindah in the south.
“This guarantees that a total of 99.5% of Queensland's population live within 100km of a State Government supported passenger transport service.”
“Many of these services simply wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for State Government subsidies.”
Mr Lucas said Queensland Transport would also undertake a network analysis of the services to look at possible new subsidised air and bus routes.
16 July, 2007
Further inquiries: Premier’s Office: 3224 4500
Premier Peter Beattie said Cabinet had approved a decision to continue funding the services for up to five years, with Queensland Transport to work with air and bus operators to improve services.
Mr Beattie said contracts for regional transport service subsidies would be adjusted in line with feedback from local communities.
In 2006-07, the government provided $7.8 million to subsidise air services, and $2.4 million for long distance bus services, to 73 regional, rural and remote communities.
"Queensland has by far the most extensive program of subsidised travel for regional communities in Australia – no other State comes close," Mr Beattie said.
"We do it because this government is committed to ensuring that rural and remote communities have access to essential medical, educational and business services in major regional centres.
“It's about ensuring the quality of life of people who choose to live in remote communities is not diminished.
"Many communities are a long way from regional centres so affordable public transport services – whether by air or bus – are vital to them.”
Mr Beattie said the government had exclusive air service contracts with MacAir and Qantas Link to operate 10 regional air routes, which carried 223,000 passengers in 2006-07 on about 7800 services.
Subsidised long distance coaches carried 118,000 passengers in 2006-07 on about 6000 services travelling more than four million kilometres.
Minister for Transport and Main Roads Paul Lucas said today’s decision enables Queensland Transport to call tenders for the continuation of long distance bus and air services currently provided to regional Queensland over the next five years.
“As the new tenders are progressed QT will work with service providers to improve the services that customers receive and the integration of services,” he said.
New services enhancements which will be developed and implemented over the first two to three years of the new contracts include:
• ensuring passenger terminals are provided for government supported services at key locations such as Toowoomba and Rockhampton for bus services,
• helping smaller operators provide internet ticket sale capability for the convenience of customers,
• improve the connections between air, bus and rail services to provide better integration
• increased marketing of long distance services to ensure regional communities are aware of the services available with minimum marketing
• to plan with operators the future upgrades of aircraft used on regional services in Queensland, with fleet replacement and larger aircraft where services are growing.
Mr Lucas said the subsidies were vital for a large, decentralized state like Queensland.
“Queensland has the highest percentage of population outside a capital city than any Australian state,” Mr Lucas said.
“The State Government subsidises services from Horn Island in the north to Birdsville in the west and Thargomindah in the south.
“This guarantees that a total of 99.5% of Queensland's population live within 100km of a State Government supported passenger transport service.”
“Many of these services simply wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for State Government subsidies.”
Mr Lucas said Queensland Transport would also undertake a network analysis of the services to look at possible new subsidised air and bus routes.
16 July, 2007
Further inquiries: Premier’s Office: 3224 4500