Queensland’s 50-Cent Fares Here to Stay as Public Transport Use Increases

A line of Brisbane City Council Buses are seen driving across the Victoria Bridge in Brisbane, Queensland on Oct. 15, 2021. AAP Image/Darren England

Fifty-cent public transport fares are now permanent in Queensland, the government has announced.

The concept was originally introduced as a six-month trial by the former Labor government.

However, Liberal National Party (LNP) Premier David Crisafulli, who won the election in October, has now cemented them as a permanent fixture.

Minister for Transport and Main Roads Brent Mickelberg said patronage on public transport in regional Queensland had grown by 20 percent in the previous year.

“Our decision to make 50-cent fares permanent was the right one, with so many Queenslanders benefiting from affordable public transport,” Mickelberg said.

“Queenslanders have saved more than $181 million thanks to 50-cent fares, and our networks have seen a total of 93.3 million trips since the trial started to Feb. 2.

“Some Queenslanders have told me they now use public transport instead of driving to work, while others say their family is getting out and about more on weekends thanks to the cheap travel. It’s great to hear.”

Previously, the LNP stated 50c fares would have come to a halt at the conclusion of the six-month trial period under Labor, despite then-Premier Steven Miles announcing in September 2024 that the trial would have been made permanent.

The uptake of public transport in South East Queensland since the trial started increased by 18.3 percent from the benchmark period in 2023.

The highest increase among public transport use was ferries, up 42.8 percent.

Use of buses increased by 18.6 percent, with rail experiencing an increase of 18.6 percent, and light rail up 27.5 percent.

Call to Make Fares National

Queensland has led the way with the initiative, with some unions and politicians calling for it to be rolled out in other states, and even nationally.

Greens Leader Adam Bandt has called for 50c fares across the nation, claiming it would save Australians between $36 to $50 a week and launching the idea as an official policy on Jan. 31.

Independent calculations by the Parliamentary Budget Office revealed the national cost would be around $8.1 billion over three years to reimburse ticket revenue.

The left-wing Greens stated they would like to see the move funded by “big corporations and billionaires.”