Unions want permanent 50c fares for Queensland

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Unions want permanent 50c fares for Queensland

Unions are pushing for 50c public transport fares in Queensland to remain when a six-month trial ends as the state’s transport-dominated election campaign ramps up.

A petition by Queensland Unions to keep 50c public transport fares has reached almost 2000 signatures since the six-month trial began on Monday.

The peak body represents more than 400,000 workers across the state.

Near-free fares on public buses, ferries and trains are part of several cost-of-living initiatives spruiked by the government ahead of the October 26 state election.

Others include $1000 energy rebates for households, 20 per cent off car registration and free kindergarten that began in 2024.

Premier Steven Miles has also made another bold cost-of-living pitch to voters, promising to establish state-owned petrol stations and capped fuel price rises if re-elected.

Unions are now hoping repeated calls will force the fourth-term-seeking Labor government to keep the cheap fare policy should they win in October.

Mr Miles trails ******** National Party opposition leader David Crisafulli in polling.

“What we need next is confirmation that this trial isn’t just an exercise in vote buying but represents an ongoing commitment by the Miles Labor government to measures that will help alleviate not only rising cost of living, but also congestion on our roads and climate impact,” said Unions General Secretary Jacqueline King.

The push comes as the government is set to open a new information and engagement centre for the Sunshine Coast Direct Rail on Wednesday.

Construction on the line’s $5.5 billion first stage will cover 19km from Beerwah to Caloundra, with construction to begin in 2026.

It is a pivotal project in terms of its significance to public transport for the Sunshine Coast but will not extend to all the region’s Olympic and Paralympic Games sites, where nine events across four locations will be held in 2032.

Train journeys on the first stage from the Sunshine Coast to Brisbane’s Roma Street station are set to take 45 minutes less than driving in peak hour.

No timelines have been given for delivering stage two and three.

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