The Queensland Government has made the 50c public transport fare a permanent feature, effective immediately. This initiative, which started as a trial introduced by Labor before the state election and later supported by the Coalition, has proved popular. The trial wrapped up recently, but the Crisafulli government has allocated $1.5 billion to ensure the program continues.
Since its launch in August, public transport usage has increased by 18% compared to last year, resulting in fare savings of $180 million over six months. For example, a commuter travelling from Caboolture to Brisbane City previously faced a daily cost of $18, amounting to $2,395 over six months. Now, under the new fare structure, that journey costs only $133, saving commuters over $2,000.
With more than 93 million trips taken since the fare reduction began, this scheme has substantially boosted service utilisation. While the policy significantly impacts the budget, it ultimately benefits passengers by easing their financial burden.