1 Jun 2015: SEQ: Fare unaffordability crisis continues Time for fair fare action

[ozbob]

1st June 2015



SEQ: Fare unaffordability crisis continues - Time for fair fare action

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 it is time the State Government moved forward with a fare review for SEQ.  The implementation of concession fares for Health Care Card holders should be done immediately.  The unemployed need equitable and affordable access to public transport in Queensland. The April 2015 Public transport performance data again has affordability as the standout failure of the KPIs.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The ALP when in opposition gave a committment to conduct a review of the failed fares for SEQ  ' to establish a future fare structure that is fair, affordable, and designed to boost patronage across the network ' (1).
The ALP have also made a committment to extend concession fares to the unemployed  ' ... will maintain public transport concessions and extend them to recipients of the Newstart allowance ' (2). "

"The unaffordability of fares is the key standout failure of the latest TransLink Key Performance Indicators released today (3). There is no doubt that the previous two State Governments and TransLink have failed to deliver a fare system that is equitable, drives patronage and assists in mobilising our community. The failure to properly sort the SEQ fares  is a very sad indictment on previous Governments."

"It is important that proper community consultation be undertaken as part of a review.  Top down implementation of anti-public transport fare structures has just resulted in a failed fare mess, and has proved very costly in real dollars and in a political sense."

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

References:

1. Letter from Tim Mulherin 20th January 2015
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=11178.msg151987#msg151987

2. http://www.queenslandlabor.org/wp-content/uploads/2014QldPolicyPlatform_web.pdf

3. http://translink.com.au/sites/default/files/assets/resources/about-translink/reporting-and-publications/open-data/2015-Apr-snapshot.pdf

KPI Summary http://backontrack.org/images/tl/summaryapr15.jpg


Affordability KPI http://backontrack.org/images/tl/affordabilityapr15.jpg

[ozbob]

Discussion --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=11160.msg156999#msg156999

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

22nd June 2015

Fare unaffordability crisis continues - Time for fair fare action

Greetings,

Yet more evidence of the fare system failure for SEQ.  It is time that the Government acted to fix the fares for SEQ.

Brisbanetimes --> Driving 'cheaper than public transport', say Queenslanders

Research has found Queenslanders were more convinced than people in any other Australian state that driving was a cheaper way to get around than public transport, prompting fresh calls for fares to be cut.

    A survey by consumer research firm Canstar Blue found 72 per cent of Queenslanders agreed with the statement "I find it's cheaper to drive than use public transport".

    That was well ahead of Tasmania (60 per cent), Western Australia (57 per cent), New South Wales (54 per cent), Victoria (53 per cent) and South Australia (50 per cent).

    Canstar Blue spokesman Simon Downes said 3000 motorists were surveyed across Australia.

    "Respondents in Queensland were by far the most convinced that driving is cheaper than using public transport, but Queenslanders do show a strong willingness to use it more, should costs reduce," he said.

    Forty-three per cent of Queensland respondents said they would drive less if public transport were cheaper, compared with 41 per cent in NSW and Victoria, 34 per cent in SA, 33 per cent in WA and just 20 per cent in Tasmania.

    Robert Dow, from public transport advocacy group Rail Back on Track, said the results were no surprise.

    "That confirms what we know, that fares in south-east Queensland are certainly the most expensive in Australia for the majority of commutes and, in terms of world ranking, we're up in the top three or four as well," he said.

    Mr Dow said there needed to be an urgent review of the fare structure in south-east Queensland and the Palaszczuk government had been too slow to act since it came into power earlier this year.

    "If it's got to the point where people think it's much cheaper to drive, it's a fairly worrying situation," he said.

    "Because what can happen, unless the government bites the bullet here and does something significant with the fare system to encourage people on it, we could start to see service cuts.

    "Now that would be absolutely calamitous for south-east Queensland."

    Transport Minister Jackie Trad did not respond to a request for comment.

    The Canstar Blue survey also found Queenslanders spent an average of about $127 a month, less than Victoria ($140), SA ($134) and NSW ($133), but more than Tasmania ($118) and WA ($110).

    "(Queenslanders) may not spend as much on fuel as others," Mr Downes said, "but Queenslanders are the most likely to have days when they can't afford to fill up."

    Thirty per cent of Queenslanders agreed with the statement "there have been days when I couldn't afford to put fuel in my car", compared with 28 per cent in NSW, 27 per cent in SA and WA, 25 per cent in Victoria and 22 per cent in Tasmania.

Doing nothing is not an option.  It is Queensland Labor policy to sort this.  About time don't you think?

Best wishes
Robert

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

1st June 2015



SEQ: Fare unaffordability crisis continues - Time for fair fare action

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 it is time the State Government moved forward with a fare review for SEQ.  The implementation of concession fares for Health Care Card holders should be done immediately.  The unemployed need equitable and affordable access to public transport in Queensland. The April 2015 Public transport performance data again has affordability as the standout failure of the KPIs.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The ALP when in opposition gave a committment to conduct a review of the failed fares for SEQ  ' to establish a future fare structure that is fair, affordable, and designed to boost patronage across the network ' (1).
The ALP have also made a committment to extend concession fares to the unemployed  ' ... will maintain public transport concessions and extend them to recipients of the Newstart allowance ' (2). "

"The unaffordability of fares is the key standout failure of the latest TransLink Key Performance Indicators released today (3). There is no doubt that the previous two State Governments and TransLink have failed to deliver a fare system that is equitable, drives patronage and assists in mobilising our community. The failure to properly sort the SEQ fares  is a very sad indictment on previous Governments."

"It is important that proper community consultation be undertaken as part of a review.  Top down implementation of anti-public transport fare structures has just resulted in a failed fare mess, and has proved very costly in real dollars and in a political sense."

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

References:

1. Letter from Tim Mulherin 20th January 2015
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=11178.msg151987#msg151987

2. http://www.queenslandlabor.org/wp-content/uploads/2014QldPolicyPlatform_web.pdf

3. http://translink.com.au/sites/default/files/assets/resources/about-translink/reporting-and-publications/open-data/2015-Apr-snapshot.pdf

KPI Summary http://backontrack.org/images/tl/summaryapr15.jpg


Affordability KPI http://backontrack.org/images/tl/affordabilityapr15.jpg

[ozbob]

Discussion --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=11160.msg157914#msg157914