Media Statement: Shadow Minister for Transport State Smartcard secrecy

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Tim Nicholls MP
Shadow Minister for Transport and Traffic Management
Shadow Minister for Trade
Shadow Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations   
Member for Clayfield            


18 October 2007


State Government's Smartcard secrecy blasted

South-east Queensland public transport commuters deserve answers not
secrecy about how the long overdue 'Smartcard' electronic ticketing
system will work, the Queensland Coalition said today.

During a speech in State Parliament this week, Shadow Transport
Minister Tim Nicholls described the electronic Smartcard ticketing
system as a "debacle" which had cost at least $134 million and was
four years late.

"While there are two trials of the Smartcard underway, the State Labor
Government has refused to reveal details about how the ticket will
work when it is fully rolled out," he said.

"The State Labor Government won't say whether the Smartcard will be
available at as many places as the current paper tickets. Why are many
newsagents being excluded given they make up a substantial number of
the distribution network?

"They won't explain why the popular ten-trip saver tickets are being
dropped and how a so-called frequent traveler discount will work.

"They haven't said how long paper tickets will remain available after
the Smartcard is introduced and whether fares for paper tickets will
be increased to drive people to the Smartcard.

"Transport Minister John Mickel needs to start answering these
questions and he needs to give a guarantee no commuter will be worse
off under the Smartcard system."

Mr Nicholls said commuters were deluging blogs on news websites
condemning the state of public transport in south-east Queensland
under the Bligh Labor Government.

"On a recent Courier Mail blog, 80 out of 84 respondents said public
transport leaves much to be desired," he said.

"One blogger sarcastically but pointedly stated 'at a time when our
roads are congested on a daily basis what a clever idea to get people
to use public transport by increasing fares' while another blogger
described Smartcard as 'yet another ALP bungle'. I couldn't have said
it better myself."