Fares Anti-Handling Measures

[#Metro]

I am fed up with fares being used over the years as a cheap pre-election stunt.

I think there needs to be a formal fares setting process / protocol that permits changes to the fare system, but also presents any embarrassing / dodgy stuff to the public. It could be legislated.

The first thing should be that fares should only be able to change with six month's notice.

The second thing is that it must be under review by a fares panel and possibly the Queensland Productivity Commission to produce a report on it.

These panels / agencies would not be able to stop any changes, but comment on it.

Other thoughts?

[ozbob]

Patience .. LD .. patience ...

[SurfRail]

The process should be that the QPC produces an assessment on fares each year, which is publicly released, and the government then makes a call on whether to accept the recommendations (in whole or part).  Nice and transparent.

[nathandavid88]

^^ Completely agree with this!

[James]

The root cause is BCC's control of transit (both road and bus/ferry). Remove that and you instantly remove any incentive to reduce fares or otherwise meddle in SEQ's public transport.

Once we get reasonable fares, the amount of meddling in the fare system should decrease significantly, because "PT being too expensive" goes away as an election issue.

[#Metro]

Disagree.

The last meddlings into the fare system were fully confined to state level. It is because of the elections and the 3 year terms we have had many changes to the fares system.

A new fare system does need to permit changes, but it should go through a forced consultation and analysis phase to make any warts transparent.

Fares and charges are an easy target. Remember frozen car rego etc?