Freeze on transport fares in SE Qld

Queensland Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe says a rise in public transport fares in the state's south east will be suspended for six months.

Public transport fares across South East Queensland will be frozen for six months.

Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the annual increase of 2.5 per cent, scheduled to start in January would be suspended while an independent review in to TransLink fares was underway.

The announcement comes as the Labor government released data showing a 3.1 per cent rise in public transport use in South East Queensland between July and September 2015.

"In the spirit of fairness, while the taskforce continues its work, the Palaszczuk Government will suspend the projected annual CPI (Consumer Price Index) increase due in January 2016," Mr Hinchcliffe said.

The move is expected to save the average commuter around $1 a week, but LNP Shadow Transport Minister Scott Emerson said customers should be "very worried".

"Last time they did a review they put up fares by 15 per cent, this time we don't know what's going up.

"Public transport users should be very fearful."

The independent Fare Review will look into the fare structure of TransLink in South East Queensland, the Department of Transport agency that runs buses, trains, trams and ferries.

The first quarterly performance report of South East Queensland's public transport network was published today after being reinstated by the government.

The TransLink tracker recorded a rise in use in the region, with more than 47 million trips made between September and July.


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Source: AAP



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