Page 1276 - Week 04 - Thursday, 5 May 2022
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MS CHEYNE: I thank Mr Cain for the question. The EasyPark app is one option that drivers can use when paying for parking in the ACT. It is important to note that drivers can still pay using a credit or a debit card, or indeed with cash, at a parking meter.
We have had a transition to this new parking app. Previously we were with Park Mobile and we are now with EasyPark. That is part of the arrangement that we have with Duncan Solutions, who hold the contract for the supply, installation and maintenance of pay parking ticket machines for the ACT government-operated pay parking areas.
As part of the contract requirements, Duncan are required to provide a pay by phone option. Earlier this year we were informed that Park Mobile had been acquired by the EasyPark group. Park Mobile was discontinued and now there has been a change to EasyPark. This is one option that community members can use to pay for parking, as IÂ mentioned, and it is used in all states or territories.
MR CAIN: Minister, why would you impose a barrier in this extra charge to the use of a digital pay parking option?
MS CHEYNE: This is not a charge that is imposed by the ACT government. EasyPark is its own business. EasyPark operates in a pay-after system, which means that customers do not pay in advance for their parking. They only pay for the time they have used. Being a user-pay system, this means that there are additional costs incurred by users through transaction and commission fees that are applied by EasyPark, which is a matter for EasyPark. There are different pricing models that people can engage with.
What I am very pleased to say is that we have had a very strong take-up of EasyPark. In fact, Mr Cain will be interested to know that the average spend with EasyPark since its inception has been $4.93. That compares to Park Mobile where the average spend was $7.37. So what that tells us is that, with the transition to EasyPark and being a pay-after system, people are taking advantage of that and paying less for their parking than having to pay for it in increments. So even with the extra charges that EasyPark applies, people are saving money.
MS LAWDER: Minister, when does the government’s contract with EasyPark expire and will a local Canberra business be considered to provide this service in future?
MS CHEYNE: As I said in my previous answer, this is a contract that we have with Duncan. Duncan works with EasyPark as its provider. EasyPark is the option for pay parking, the digital solution. That is applied right across Australia and, indeed, by our colleagues from the National Capital Authority. One of the benefits of having EasyPark within ACT government-owned facilities is that there is now just the one mobile app for all parking. So you only need to have the one app rather than two. Again, that has been received very favourably.
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