Opposition Statement: Penalty fares should be suspended

[ozbob]

http://www.fionasimpson.com.au/Pages/Article.aspx?ID=633

Penalty fares should be suspended

Wednesday, 6 January 2010

The unfair penalty fee on paper public transport tickets should be suspended until the Bligh Labor Government has resolved go card access issues, the Opposition said today.

LNP Leader John-Paul Langbroek said commuters who were unable to purchase a go card shouldn't be paying higher fares.

"Essentially the Bligh Labor Government is penalising commuters for not using a go card but it has failed to make go cards accessible for everyone who catches a bus, train or ferry.

"Only 34 out of 144 train stations currently have the facility to sell go cards but the Bligh Labor Government has rolled out this unfair fare hike regardless.

"This is a matter I will be referring to the Office of Fair Trading to investigate."

LNP Transport spokeswoman Fiona Simpson said today's Translink announcement that go cards would be for sale at all manned train stations by March was too little too late.

"It is simply unacceptable that commuters can't buy a ticket at most railway stations without being penalised, but bus travellers and ferry users also need to be able to buy a go card easily.

"There are too many suburbs and communities where people can't buy or top up their go card — it is simply too difficult use.

"Minister Nolan needs to stop hiding behind public servants and face up to her failure to introduce a workable system."

[longboi]

I don't think penalty fares should be suspended as they are a penalty and a chance to learn from a mistake. Maybe they could be refunded within a few days along with an email or phone call explaining why but that would require a lot of effort on TransLink's behalf - probably more than their staff can handle.

It's good to see the LNP come out of hiding though for so many years.