2014 Queenland Budget Estimates

[ozbob]

Queensland Parliament Estimates Hearings

--> http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/work-of-committees/Estimates

[ozbob]

http://annastaciapalaszczukmp.com.au/2014/07/15/emerson-bungles-budget-numbers/

Emerson bungles budget numbers

Post on 15 July 2014 by Jackie Trad

Transport Minister Scott Emerson has admitted to a series of bungles in the Newman Government's budget papers under questioning at today's parliamentary estimates hearings.

Shadow Transport Minister Jackie Trad said the serious errors were yet another example of why the Newman Government cannot be trusted to tell the truth and deliver better services on our public transport system.

"The Newman Government's budget papers claim 300,000 trips were taken last financial year on the Gold Coast light rail network," Ms Trad said.

"The problem is it hasn't opened yet.

"The Newman Government is claiming credit for trips on a system that isn't running. This brings into question every single number in this Minister's budget papers.

"Minister Emerson is fudging the figures to look good, but in reality, he has overseen a massive dive in public transport patronage.

"When Emerson became the Minister, there were 178.3 million trips on SEQ public transport network. There were 176.7 million trips last year, which is a reduction of 1.5 million trips."

Ms Trad said that Mr Emerson refused to detail the true cost of the Newman Government's nine trips and free program.

"In 2013, the Minister was able to detail the cost of the program, but this year he refused to answer any questions or detail actual costs," Ms Trad said.

"This is because Minister Emerson knows his program is grossly underfunded and over-budget.

"But yet again, Minister Emerson is failing to take responsibility for the mess he's created.

"Whether it's the bungled SEQ bus review, the botched roll out of the Tertiary Transport Concession Card or his failure to deliver Cross River Rail – everything this Minister touches turns into a disaster."

Ms Trad said on 28 March 2012, Premier Newman declared that his Minister's had two years to fix problems in their portfolios or they would be sacked.

"We are over two years into the Newman Government's first term and Minister Emerson has done nothing to improve our public transport network and is in fact making it worse," Ms Trad said.

"It's time the Premier delivered on his commitment to hold Ministers accountable for their failures and make them accountable for spending tax-payers dollars."

[ozbob]

Twitter

Jackie Trad ‏@jackietrad

101 of being a Minister: get the budget figures right - @scottemersonmp has failed http://tinyurl.com/l4rt8vz  #estimates

[#Metro]

"Whether it's the bungled SEQ bus review, the botched roll out of the Tertiary Transport Concession Card or his failure to deliver Cross River Rail – everything this Minister touches turns into a disaster."

Ms Trad said on 28 March 2012, Premier Newman declared that his Minister's had two years to fix problems in their portfolios or they would be sacked.

"We are over two years into the Newman Government's first term and Minister Emerson has done nothing to improve our public transport network and is in fact making it worse," Ms Trad said.

Bungled bus review? Was that the same bus review that had Ms Trad outside parliament with pensioners holding signs to kill it?
The 9 then free is waste but it is an example of the current lot running with previous government policy and indeed, extending it.

[James]

"Whether it's the bungled SEQ bus review, the botched roll out of the Tertiary Transport Concession Card or his failure to deliver Cross River Rail – everything this Minister touches turns into a disaster."

Ms Trad said on 28 March 2012, Premier Newman declared that his Minister's had two years to fix problems in their portfolios or they would be sacked.

"We are over two years into the Newman Government's first term and Minister Emerson has done nothing to improve our public transport network and is in fact making it worse," Ms Trad said.

Bungled bus review? Was that the same bus review that had Ms Trad outside parliament with pensioners holding signs to kill it?
The 9 then free is waste but it is an example of the current lot running with previous government policy and indeed, extending it.

The entire ALP cannot utter a word about poor public transport performance. They were the ones who presided over the FlexiLink debacle, 1km busways which actually lengthened travel times for some pax and failed to build CRR despite knowing in 2006 that there were capacity issues in the core section of the rail network. And recently they opposed the bus review and rational planning re: BaT (that is, saving Dutton Park instead of putting light on the incoming failure with regards to Park Road station).

A 0.84% reduction in trips is to be expected given a fare hike of 7.5%. Would be interesting to see how much PT patronage decreased under the former government and their excessive fare rises. As I've said before, the LNP fare rises were bad, but the ALP's proposed fare rises would have been toxic and led to even further reductions in PT patronage.

With regards to the bungled numbers - they were probably calculated assuming the tram ran for a few weeks in June (like it was going to in the first place). Most pax would have been from Surfside services anyway, so it is probably a matter of taking most of the money raised from fares by the G: and giving it to Surfside Bus Lines. Problem solved.

[dancingmongoose]

Maybe they just counted how many empty runs the trams have done over the past months of testing?

[ozbob]

The LNP just carried on with the mediocrity precedent from the the other mob. 

Rather than do the hard yards of fare reform just were happy to political trump with the 9 and free and stuff you all basically.

The attitude re the TTCC is another sign of their general arrogance and attitude.  The sad thing is they (both ALP and LNP) are setting the state up for a real worsening of the mediocrity with PUP and others (possibly) getting a significant foothold and then we will have government by fractured splinter groups.  Similar to the One Nation days, which really set Queensland on a longer term course for failure.

I still remain unconvinced that BaT will actually materialise either.  Nothing here to re-assure.  Queensland Rail continues to be thinned, no doubt for the privatisation/franchise to come.

Brisbane media is so under-resourced that we rarely see the sort of coverage both Melbourne and Sydney have re transport etc.  It is generally the quick grab with minimal research and balance. 

Have a nice life! 

==================

Brisbanetimes --> Phones may soon be used as Go Cards

South East Queensland public transport users could soon be using their smart phones as Go Cards.

Transport Minister Scott Emerson said the "next generation ticketing project" would be opened to government tender from Tuesday.

He told the Transport, Housing and Local Government Committee budget estimates hearings that 30 potential respondents had already been identified.

"Given the complicity of the system because SEQ, South East Queensland,  is one of the largest integrated ticketing networks in the world and the significant revenue it collects on behalf of the state, the mobilisation of the project through to delivery needs to be carefully procured and delivered to mitigate failure of any new ticketing options, particularly one of this magnitude," Mr Emerson said.

The current Cubic ticketing system expires in late 2016.  Mr Emerson said he wanted to look towards the future and examine "all of the exciting options out there".

Mr Emerson's estimates appearance also put a figure to the Queensland Rail retrenchment figures - one in every five employees has been let go in the past two years, resulting in about a 20 per cent reduction in staff.

Queensland Rail now has about 5800 full-time equivalent positions.

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/phones-may-soon-be-used-as-go-cards-20140715-ztfad.html

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

16th July 2014

Jackie Trad and Scott Emerson must come up with bus and rail review plans

Greetings,

We have a death spiral in public transport at present - fares, student ticketing, patronage, costs - all out of control.

We agree when Ms Trad states: "When Emerson became the Minister, there were 178.3 million trips on SEQ public transport network. There were 176.7 million trips last year, which is a reduction of 1.5 million trips."

Fares and subsidy have gone up, passenger numbers have gone down in real terms. The reasons why this has happened is because of two fundamental issues with the transit network, which has driven up fares to now at the worst unaffordability level ever:

1. The BCC bus network, which needs full scale, no-holds barred redesign like Auckland, NZ has done. BCC has been uncooperative, rejecting TransLink meetings on at least six occasions.

2. The QR rail network - installation of Automatic Train Control and conversion of all guards to drivers (driver only operation).

The BCC's bus network operates like a taxi, so there is little wonder it is now charging unaffordable taxi-style fares, slamming those on Centrelink payments, refugees and those on the minimum wage. The QR rail network is not exempt from our view either. Perth runs identical trains to those operated by QR, made in the same factory, at half the cost that QR operates them at. This means the same amount of money is buying half as much bang in Queensland than it is in Perth. The reason? Perth has ATP installed and has driver only operation. We don't.

It is an embarrassment that TransPerth rail patronage has now overtaken rail patronage in SEQ. Perth is a smaller city than Brisbane.

We will consider as defective and deficient any transport policy at the 2015 election not directly and satisfactorily tackling these two areas. Solve these issues, and the door will be opened to abundant and cheap public transport for all. To assist with bus network change, we have produced a public map of the BCC bus network coded by frequency.

BCC Bus Map + Rail --> https://mapsengine.google.com/map/viewer?mid=zo2O13ByWclc.k1adG6JPlvmg

RAIL Back on Track seeks bipartisan commitment to full scale bus network and rail reform from all parties contesting the 2015 Queensland Election. This means full commitment to bus contracting, putting Queensland Rail on a path to driver only operations and wholesale rationalisation of the BCC bus network. This way, low cost and abundant public transport for SEQ can be guaranteed.

We look forward to Jackie Trad and Scott Emerson presenting their respective connected bus network plan and rail reform plans for Brisbane before the 2015 election.


References:

ATP = Automatic Train Protection. * ERTMS = European Railway Traffic Management System

Emerson bungles budget numbers http://annastaciapalaszczukmp.com.au/2014/07/15/emerson-bungles-budget-numbers/

9 Apr 2013: SEQ: Suburban rail network needs Automatic Train Protection too! http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9832.0

Brisbane City Council Bus Network Map Released http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=10812.0

BCC Bus Map + Rail https://mapsengine.google.com/map/viewer?mid=zo2O13ByWclc.k1adG6JPlvmg

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

[Stillwater]

Somehow, in government circles, there seems to be confusion about what is 'transport' and what is 'infrastructure'.  One (infrastructure) facilitates the other.  The drive for infrastructure would appear to be affected by political ego.  A pollie would favour standing beside some new edifice (bridge or bus stop) without stopping to think whether a vehicle will cross the bridge or a bus will pull in at the stop.  The inherent value of ATC is undisputed, but it is not sufficiently sexy for politicians.  Standing beside a control panel is not considered a good photo opportunity, whereas sitting in the driver's seat of a bright Queensland patriotic maroon bus is.

Jeff Seeney promised a 'transport plan' before the last election.  What voters got was some motherhood statements and selected bits of infrastructure in geographically sensitive (ie marginal seat) areas.

Labor, LNP, PUP can't shirk their responsibilities and hope they can squeeze under the wire at the next election without having a realistic transport policy and plan, fully costed.

[ozbob]

Brisbane rail has considerable latent patronage.  The poor bus network design is one factor.  Springfield and Moreton Bay are both servicing already well established rapidly growing  areas.  For once something is going right.

Perth simply feed the rail properly with frequent direct bus feeders, operate buses as buses and not pretend buses are trains. 

No brainer, but hey this Queensland .. 

[BrizCommuter]

Ms Trad's outburst is a bit of a case of pot calling the kettle black. It's currently incompetent vs incompetent.

[techblitz]

 

https://www.facebook.com/TransperthSardineTrains

[James]

https://www.facebook.com/TransperthSardineTrains

There is a simple solution to the problem of overcrowding on transport - just raise public transport fares like Anna Bligh did! You do not hear about people complaining about overcrowding on QR now, do you?

[techblitz]

According to the last TransLink annual report fare increases and subsidy decreases are necessary to achieve financial sustainability.

"These fare increases will enable TransLink to continue to roll out services to meet growing demand, whilst gradually reducing state subsidies to a more sustainable level," the report said.

Asked to comment on the Council claims, transport minister Annastacia Palaszczuk did not deny the scale of the increases. She issued a statement that for every one dollar spent in fares in south-east Queensland, the government invested another three.

"We've added 110,000 weekly bus seats in 2010/11 and, next Monday, the Queensland government will deliver another 100,000 when the eastern busway is officially opened for business," she said.

quote from the then transport minister on the 5 year fare plan...
wait a sec...i thought only the LNP coughs up political spin to talk up PT networks

[ozbob]

The LNP projected themselves as a 'CanDo' government, sadly they have just carried on with the previous mob's mediocrity.

The real longer term  issues are with the under performing bureaucracy.  They are the constant between administrations.  TMR is a major worry.

Forget TransLink, destroyed by the LNP  it is essentially a few desks under the TMR umbrella.

The real risk now is that the political process will lead to further fragmentation and poor outcomes.  Woof!

[ozbob]

According to the last TransLink annual report fare increases and subsidy decreases are necessary to achieve financial sustainability.

"These fare increases will enable TransLink to continue to roll out services to meet growing demand, whilst gradually reducing state subsidies to a more sustainable level," the report said.

Asked to comment on the Council claims, transport minister Annastacia Palaszczuk did not deny the scale of the increases. She issued a statement that for every one dollar spent in fares in south-east Queensland, the government invested another three.

"We've added 110,000 weekly bus seats in 2010/11 and, next Monday, the Queensland government will deliver another 100,000 when the eastern busway is officially opened for business," she said.

quote from the then transport minister on the 5 year fare plan...
wait a sec...i thought only the LNP coughs up political spin to talk up PT networks

Hasn't happened and gotten worse.  The 5 year fare fail was flawed policy in the extreme.  The silly 10 and free stuff was just political panic taking hold. The former transport Ministers wanted to change the paradigm but were thwarted at the highest levels.  Fact.  Emerson considers his 9 and free trump over the 10 and free his political master-stroke and is happy to put self-ego and polyticks before real solutions for the broader community.  There is a real crunch coming, and it is part related to fuel prices.  Watch this space ..

[ozbob]

https://www.facebook.com/TransperthSardineTrains

Perth has plenty of capacity just need to run 6 car sets and then further frequency increase.  Perth is working very well, has the fastest growth in terms of population of all Oz cities.

Set up properly with ATP, they will manage fine.  Can you imagine paid park n' ride being introduced in the SEQ?  LOL ... oh. dear.

[ozbob]

The changes to the Queensland Budget Estimates have resulted in a charade being played out.

All Queenslanders should be seriously alarmed IMHO.  It is simply an attempt to avoid the close scrutiny that was incumbent in the previous measured processes.

[petey3801]

https://www.facebook.com/TransperthSardineTrains

Perth has plenty of capacity just need to run 6 car sets and then further frequency increase.  Perth is working very well, has the fastest growth in terms of population of all Oz cities.

Set up properly with ATP, they will manage fine.  Can you imagine paid park n' ride being introduced in the SEQ?  LOL ... oh. dear.

Yeah, Perth are just simply a victim of their own success. They are suffering from a lack of rollingstock, which they are trying to address at the moment with more B Set orders. I would much rather their "problem" than ours!