11 Jan 2015: QLD Election 2015: Will the punters be hit with 20% plus ...

[ozbob]

Media release 11th January 2015

QLD Election 2015: Will the punters be hit with 20% plus fare increases after the show?

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers has said the unaffordability of fares in SEQ must be fixed. A key to fare reform is also fixing the Brisbane bus network. Public transport in Queensland is in such a mess there also needs to be a public inquiry (1).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Without bus reform, there is every chance 20% plus fare increases will return to SEQ."

"In 2009, fares were frozen during an election year. The next year, fares increased by 20% for go card, 40% for paper tickets, slamming minimum wage workers, refugees and those on Centrelink payments. Escalating costs within the Brisbane City Council's bus network also saw repeated 15% fare increases year on year, destroying patronage."

"Is the 2015 election year ' fare freeze ' a harbinger of fare Armageddon and more run-away fare increases? History repeating??"

"In 2013, it was revealed on ABC Radio that Lord Mayor Graham Quirk had asked for increased funding beyond the 4% annual provision - possibly up to 21% more funding from the Queensland Government (2). Had this cost increase been passed on to passengers as more 20% plus fare increases, patronage and bus driver jobs would be threatened. Job security isn't guaranteed by government ownership; it is guaranteed by strong and growing patronage. After all, empty buses don't need drivers."

"Our own research shows inefficiencies within the Brisbane City Council Bus Network is fuelling increased fares (3, 4, 5). What will Campbell Newman and Annastacia Palaszczcuk do to fix the root causes of the problem?"

"RAIL Back on Track calls for Campbell Newman and Annastacia Palaszczuk to reject 20% plus fare increases. In addition, we call for full commitment to bus reform - competitive contracting and comprehensive bus network reform. Independent research by Perth's Auditor General and The University of Queensland confirm bus reform and competitive contracting is the way to go (6)."

"Objectors to bus contracting are well advised to go and ride a CityCat. If it is good enough for Brisbane City Council to contract out special event bus services to five private bus companies, and contract out the Brisbane CityCats, it is good enough for the Queensland Government to do so as well."

"The political party that offers genuine reform of rail and bus networks, together with fare reform, is the political party able to guarantee low cost and abundant public transport for all."

"We look forward to the response by Campbell Newman and Annastacia Palaszczcuk, and swift publication of detailed transport policies on their respective websites which turn around public transport in SEQ ."

Contact:

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

References:

1. Queensland: Call for an Inquiry into Public Transport
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=11184.0

2. Speed limit review - and BCC bus review handed to Translink, 04 June 2013 , 8:05 AM by Spencer Howson
http://blogs.abc.net.au/queensland/2013/06/speed-limit-review-and-bcc-bus-review-handed-to-translink.html?site=brisbane&program=612_breakfast

3. Current BCC Bus Network -  http://tiny.cc/checkyourbus

4. New Bus Network Proposal -  http://tiny.cc/newnetwork

5. New Bus Network Survey - http://tiny.cc/busreform

6. The contracting of urban bus services – Recent Australian developments
Ian P. Wallis and David J. Bray, Research in Transportation Economics
Volume 48, December 2014, Pages 48–61.
http://doi:10.1016/j.retrec.2014.09.031

[ozbob]

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