Say No to GoCard until Fares are Fair

[Fares_Fair]

WARNING ...

The 'Say No to GoCard' committee are having trouble getting their story into the print media.
We say that it's a new story, about real people who demand a voice.
A group united in their efforts to make the fares fair.

The 'Say No to GoCard until Fares are Fair' campaign is about to step up a notch.
Look for the Advertisement in this Wednesday's edition of the MX newspaper.

Let's get the message out there !

[ozbob]

The North Coast commuters have done a great job in raising the issues.

We have been consistently alerting all via the media and other avenues since last July.
The mainstream media, with some exceptions tend to accept the spin from Government and Translink.

Terry Sweetman has written a couple of very critical pieces in the Courier Mail though.

One of the problems I have found is that many journalists really do not understand the detail of the fare structure and therefore cannot really appreciate the impacts.  They are done over by the notion of a 50% discount after six trips, the so called 'loyality program' oft touted by Minister Mickel.  It is aberrant nonsense of course.

The best support we have had has been at the community level, the local newspapers such as the Quest Newspapers and the Satellite (Queensland Times) and so forth.

Keep up the good work, we continue to seek fair fares too!

[Huggies]

I look forward to seeing the Ad's. I hope they attack the Transport Minster for his lack of action on the matter.

[Fares_Fair]

Hello Huggies,

No, I'm sorry but we don't attack the Transport Minister in our Ad.
We publish the huge increases and ask that you, and the public, contact him and ask for a fair fare.

We want him to act on this issue by making the fares appropriate and no more than the inflation rate ( between 3-4% ).

His email details are on the Net.

Also contact and pursue Translink on this issue also ( assume you probably have perhaps ) - but don't accept the standard 'spin' reply and pursue an answer. If they do not reply appropriately ask for a dispute process. If you follow that through you can then make a formal complaint  to the Ombudsman about their actions.   

Regards,
Fares_Fair

[Huggies]

Well that sounds like a decent advertisement.

I think with this issue that Translink has to bypassed and people write straight to the minister and their local member. This issue needs to be kept in the spotlight as to make them think of the damage it might do to their chances of re-election.

[haakon]

There is an intersting story on page two of MX(4/3/08). It has translink saying that there other discount schemes coming.

The greater than 10 zone price disparity was specificly mentioned by the reporter, all the quotes from the government spokesmen was very "Yes Minister" nothing of any real substance was quoted from him.

[ozbob]

Yes, thanks Haakon, have started another thread on the article here --> http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=587.0

[haakon]

I think your advert may have struck a nerve Fares_fare. John Mickel (Minister for Transport etc) has a letter in today's MX stating if the go card FU scheme doesn't suit don't use it.

[Fares_Fair]

Yes, thank you Haakon,

Looks like the Hon. John Mickel, Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
is on our side after all. We also "Say No to GoCard until Fares are Fair"

It is good that he has admitted there are fare impacts under the present scheme, compared to paper tickets, and we look forward to seeing the detail of what is proposed in relation to the fare structure.

Kind Regards,
Fares_Fair

[Fares_Fair]

Hello,

The 'Say No to GoCard' committee spokesman met today with the Hon. Peter Wellington MP,
Member for Nicklin, at the Queensland Parliament.

He discussed the ongoing issues with Translink and their reprehensible record in responding to commuters,
as well as the cost increases associated with the use of the GoCard.

He has prepared a Question on Notice to the Government over the cost increases associated with
Rail commuters on the Sunshine and Gold Coasts.

Stay tuned.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[ozbob]

Look forward to the response with interest!

Well done!!

Cheers
Ozbob

[ozbob]

Posted on behalf of Fares_Fair

Question on Notice to the Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel from the Member for Nicklin the Honourable Peter Wellington, Queensland Parliament 13 March 2008.

"Minister, with respect to the price paid for weekly and monthly railway paper tickets, will you support these railway paper tickets not increasing in price above the consumer price index during the next 12 months, and the paper tickets continuing to be available for purchase at current railway stations."

[Fares_Fair]

Hello,

Thank you Bob for posting the Question on Notice in the Queensland Parliament today.
The Minister has 1 month to respond to the question, and all will be recorded in the Hansard.
( response to be made by Monday, 14th April, 2008 )

The question may seem innocuous .. but this question gives us the opportunity to find out if Translink's intentions are to force us onto the GoCard this July, when train fares traditionally increase.

The answer to these questions can allay our fears over the GoCard price issue ..
for the next 12 months at least, and will give the Government time to come up with a better fare structure for the GoCard-disadvantaged, long distance commuters.

Regards,
Fares_Fair

[Fares_Fair]

Queensland Parliament
Question on Notice : Answer due Monday 14th April, 2008.

On the 13th March, 2008 the following Question on Notice was put to the Hon. John Mickel MP,
Member for Logan and Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
by the Hon. Peter Wellington MP, Member for Nicklin, in the Queensland Parliament.

This question was put to the Minister on behalf of the 'Say No to GoCard' committee.

With respect to the price paid for weekly and monthly railway paper tickets -
Will he support these railway paper tickets
(a) not increasing in price above the consumer price index during the next 12 months and
(b) continuing to be available for purchase at current railway stations.

The Hon. Member for Logan's response will be published tomorrow,
Monday 14 April, 2008 in Queensland's Hansard.
We look forward to his response on this issue. 

Regards,
Fares_Fair