The introduction of mobile phone and credit card tap-on payments for Western Australia’s public transport has faced further delays, now falling 18 months behind schedule. Transport Minister Rita Saffioti had aimed for a mid-year completion in January, which itself was already a year late; however, Premier Roger Cook confirmed this timeline is no longer achievable. The new expectation is for the payment technology to be operational by the end of this year.
The setbacks are largely due to problems with the installation of payment machines, as only 400 of the 1,750 buses have been fitted with the necessary equipment. In light of these ongoing issues, Liberal leader Libby Mettam has expressed her concern, asserting that voters can no longer trust the Labor government’s management of significant transport initiatives.