The Greens are calling for free public transport fares and “real investment” in Metro after new figures revealed a decrease in bus users in June compared to the same time last year.
According to Transport Minister Eric Abetz, Metro provided 654,088 passenger trips in June, a 7.1% decrease year-on-year.
While there was a slight improvement in July with a 4.8% increase to 656,870 passengers, Greens Transport Spokesperson Helen Burnet says it’s “simply not enough”.
“Increasing public transport use should be a priority of the Rockliff Government, to ease cost of living pressures, curb congestion, improve Tasmanians’ health and reduce carbon emissions,” she said.
“During the March 2022 free public bus trial, numbers of bus users increased 15%.”
Burnet also criticised potential cuts to Metro in the upcoming state budget, saying they would “weaken” the system.
“The government must prioritise funding public transport and value the jobs of workers who can deliver a well-functioning system,” she said.
Minister Abetz highlighted the success of the government’s 13-month, half-price public transport initiative, which is running until June 30 next year across Tasmania’s bus and ferry services.
“I’m very pleased to report that the Derwent Ferries carried 12,756 passengers in the month of June which was a 13.5 per cent increase on the same month in 2023,” he said.
“In July 14,388 passenger trips were made which is 27.8 per cent higher than July 2023.”
He acknowledged the decrease in Metro users but said the overall state-wide figures show a slight uptick.
“This is just one way we’re improving the public transport experience for Tasmanians while encouraging those who don’t regularly use it to give it a go,” he said.
“That’s exactly what our half-price bus fares do.”
