Queenslanders have welcomed the news that 50-cent public transport fares will remain, no matter which party claims victory in next month's state election.
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00:00It is certainly quite an interesting policy that's been made by both parties as this announcement
00:06has come.
00:07The Miles government effectively plus the opposition, the state's opposition, the LNP,
00:11have both said that they will continue 50 cent public transport fees well past the state
00:16election next month.
00:17Now this originally was a six month trial announced by the Premier Stephen Miles back
00:21in August.
00:22It applied to 50 cent fares for all trains, ferries, buses and trams under the TransLink
00:28Network.
00:29And the state government has said that they're largely announcing the extension of this program
00:33due to its increased patronage right across the state.
00:36They say that the levels have been up from pre-pandemic levels and they've effectively
00:40also addressed a key cost of living measure.
00:43They say that the latest data has shown that most commuters have saved up to $37 million
00:49in the state from these 50 cent fares.
00:51But there is still a lot of concern in the regions, a lot of constituents are concerned
00:56about the regional train and public transport network.
01:00They say that it's not quite up to standard.
01:02Now the concern here is, the Premier has said, it's almost like a chicken and egg situation
01:06where there aren't enough services so not a lot of people do use the public transport
01:10network but for the Premier to be able to implement and increase that delivery of service
01:15they'll need to actually have an increase of patronage.
01:18So that is one of the main concerns and that's where the LNP, the state's opposition, have
01:22come to the table.
01:23They say they've got a plan to address this if they are elected into government but it
01:27is certainly proving to be quite a bit of a race and what is one of the key policy making
01:32issues for constituents front and centre.
01:35Now the Premier did speak on News Breakfast this morning, he was gruelled on the cost
01:38of this policy to taxpayers.
01:40He heavily defended it and said that it's worth every cent if it means it saves constituents
01:45at the hip pocket.
01:46We do have those progressive coal royalties which are delivering the additional revenue
01:51to fund our cost of living measures.
01:53If you got rid of those royalties, like the LNP have said they will do, then that will
01:57have an impact on your ability to keep doing things like this.
02:02You would need to cut something.
02:03But the actual revenue impact of 50 cent fares is pretty small.
02:11Certainly with the state election just around the corner, Cath, it is shaping up that a
02:16few of these key policy issues like cost of living and youth crime are very similar to
02:20the Northern Territory election so we wait and see how exactly these measures might impact
02:26voters as we head closer to the state election in October 26.