The Queensland opposition says it will match the state government’s commitment to keep 50c public transport fares in place beyond the October election.
The cut-price bus, train and ferry tickets were initially slated as a trial – to run three months before and after election day – and had been criticised as a “desperate political gimmick” from a government struggling in the polls.
But the policy has proved both popular and successful since it began six weeks ago. Public transport usage numbers exceeded pre-Covid levels and some polls show Labor support rebounding in suburban Brisbane.
On Saturday, the premier, Steven Miles, held a press conference to announce heavily subsidised bus, train and ferry rides would remain indefinitely if Labor was re-elected.
The opposition leader, David Crisafulli, called a press conference at the same time to promise the LNP would also keep the cheap fares.
The cost of subsidising the commuter trips was estimated at about $300m a year – on top of pre-existing public transport subsidies – but could ultimately be less due to the larger-than-expected patronage numbers.
Miles, whose strategy since becoming premier in December has included aggressive social investments like a promise to build publicly owned petrol stations and public transport subsidies, said the cheap fares were “something I have wanted to do since I was a teenager”.
“The best thing about this initiative is it saves Queenslanders more than it costs the government. It takes cars off the road, it gets people home sooner and it is great for the environment.”
Crisafulli, whose opposition has been criticised for running a “small-target” campaign, including pledges to keep many of Labor’s policy measures, delivered a simultaneous response after news leaked that the 50c fares would remain.
In doing so he said the LNP would also focus on providing more frequent and better services. Public transport advocates had previously questioned whether cheap fares were the best use of the state’s money, given Brisbane’s public transport network is among the least extensive of Australia’s capitals.
“When we listen to Queenslanders, they like the 50c fares,” Crisafulli told reporters Sunday.
“What they want to see is greater frequency and reliability and safety, particularly in the outer areas and in those regional areas.
“I mention regional Queensland but there are also people in those outlying Brisbane suburbs, [the] Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, who would use public transport more if there was a greater frequency and reliability.”
Labor and the LNP-run Brisbane city council recently announced an expansion of the city’s metro bus network.
Government data shows that over the first five weeks of the 50c fare trial, Queenslanders took an additional 2.6m trips compared with the same period in 2023.
Half-price fares on the privately owned Airtrain to and from Brisbane airport will continue for six months while negotiations continue with the company.
