Queensland will benefit from cheaper public transport permanently, regardless of the outcome of the state election, after the "huge success" of its trial of 50 cent public transport fares.
Premier Steven Miles said on Sunday the government would keep 50 cent fares post-election, noting usage had surged past pre-pandemic levels.
The LNP said it would also retain the cheap fares should it take office.
"The best thing about this initiative is it saves Queenslanders more than it costs government because of all those extra people using public transport," Mr Miles said.
The trial was originally slated to last six months, but has been extended due to its success. (ABC News: Lucas Hill)
"All around, I'm really excited about 50 cent fares, and I really want the chance to make them permanent."
Deputy Premier Cameron Dick said commuters had saved $37 million since the 50 cent fares were introduced and taken more than 3 million more trips.
The government says more people are taking advantage of public transport now that fares only cost 50 cents. (ABC News: Gemma Ferguson)
Feedback from across the state
Transport Minister Bart Mellish said the "outstanding success" of 50 cent fares had seen customer feedback go "through the roof".
"Customer complaints have gone down. People are really enjoying getting out and about on our network," Mr Mellish said.
Cheaper public transport has led to increased patronage in a number of places across Queensland. (ABC News: Gemma Ferguson)
The minister said the increased patronage extended beyond the heavily populated south-east corner, with more regional Queenslanders taking up public transport too.
He said the figures, in comparison to the month immediately before the trial began, were up across a number of areas.
| Locality | Increase to patronage |
|---|---|
| Cairns | 14.4 per cent |
| Townsville and Magnetic Island | 9.4 per cent |
| The Whitsundays | 21 per cent |
| Mackay | 30 per cent |
| Rockhampton | 8 per cent |
| Bundaberg | 11.6 per cent |
The premier referred to a "chicken and egg" problem facing regional towns, where "too few people use public transport because there aren't enough services, [but] you can't deliver more services because too few people use public transport".
Opposition commits to cheaper fares
Opposition Leader David Crisafulli said the LNP would honour Labor's commitment to cheaper public transport if his party won in October.
"Not only will we lock in 50 cent fares, we've got a plan to make sure that we increase frequency, reliability and safety for regional Queensland and those outer-Brisbane areas," Mr Crisafulli said.
He said Queenslanders liked the initiative but "there's a real shortage of public transport options" for those living outside of the city centre.
He would not be drawn on what localities the LNP would focus its plan for affordable public transport, but said his deputy Jarrod Bleijie would lead the plan.
When questioned about the cost, Mr Crisafulli pointed to the government's own figures, which budgeted $150 million for the first six months.
Support from union and commuters
The Queensland Council of Unions held a rally at New Farm Park on Sunday to show its support for cheaper public transport.
The council's Jared Abbott said the election promise was "excellent news" for workers and commuters, pointing to a petition that was signed almost 25,000 times in less than four weeks.
Workers and commuters rallied at New Farm Park on Sunday to show their support for the fares. (ABC News)
"It shows that the public really support it, so to hear that all parties are now committed to it, we're super happy," Mr Abbott said.
"One of the great things about having a 50 cent fare policy, rather than making it free, is you still get all that data of when people are catching [public transport], so it's easy to constantly evolve what your system is doing and change those schedules to suit."
Bus driver Andrea Foster says the 50 cent fares make public transport safer for everyone. (ABC News)
Bus driver Andrea Foster said she had noticed increased patronage among families and commuters.
"Over the years, all the incidents that we have [had], a lot of it's to do with fares, so the reduced fares actually makes it so much safer," Ms Foster said.
"So long as [the promise] is kept, it's a win for all of us."
Commuter Annelies Zeissink, 82, said cheap public transport was "the best thing since sliced bread".
Annelies Zeissink says the initiative is great for her wallet and the environment. (ABC News)
She has increased how often she catches the train, visiting Rosewood and Ipswich recently, with more plans to travel to Nambour, Cleveland, and Robina.
"We'll make use of it. It's good for everybody," Ms Zeissink said.