Free Metro buses won’t be returning to Tasmanian streets anytime soon after both the Government and Opposition voted against a Greens bill aimed at making all services free.
Greens MP Vica Bayley, who proposed the bill to provide “genuine cost of living relief” to Tasmanians struggling with rising prices, said the party had been left “deeply disappointed” by the decision.
“Not only that, free public transport would have a range of other positive benefits too, such as taking cars off the road and reducing both congestion and emissions, making buses more punctual, and reducing anti-social behaviour,” Bayley said.
Bayley said it was “hard to understand” why the idea was cancelled, given the “relatively low cost” of investment – around $12 million per year – it would take to make buses free for all.
Transport Minister Michael Ferguson argued that free fares would lead to reduced funding for Metro Tasmania and lower investment in the bus fleet.
“If we were to do what the Greens propose, what would actually occur is that you would be withdrawing public finances out of public transport,” Ferguson said in Parliament on Wednesday.
The Minister also said vulnerable Tasmanians already receive generous fare concessions and that introducing free services would be counterproductive.
