Page 2868 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 24 June 2009

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When asked about this in estimates, all Andrew Barr, the Minister for Children and Young People, had to say was:

I would say that bus fares have not gone up for a period of time … I did not look into the detail of each individual fare category … it is not unreasonable for fares to increase … look at any fee increase in the context of the history …

I would hope that Mr Barr and the government have had a change of heart and, despite Mr Corbell’s comments, will take on board the intention of Mr Coe’s motion and reinstate the original fares.

MS BRESNAN (Brindabella) (3:23): I move the amendment circulated in my name on 17 June 2009:

Omit all words after “That this Assembly”, substitute:

“(1) notes:

(a) changes to eligibility for student bus fares for tertiary students from 1 July 2009; and

(b) the resulting proposed fare increase of 49 per cent on tertiary students who use Faresaver 10 bus tickets; and

(2) calls on the ACT Government to:

(a) review the impact of ACTION fare increases on students and low income earners, and other customers who cannot afford to buy pre-paid multiple tickets, as recommended by the Estimates Committee;

(b) table the review in the Assembly; and

The ACT Greens were a little alarmed at evidence at the estimates hearing that there had been no real social impact analysis of the decision to change the ticket pricing and structure. I understand that we do not have a lot of information on who buys cash fares on ACTION buses, and which of our tertiary students use school bus tickets and when. I would have thought there would have been some broader Australian research available on who uses cash fares, how people on very limited incomes manage their transport, and the transport employment habits of tertiary students and the unemployed. When questions were raised about what impact this understandable and desirable shift towards pre-purchased ticketing will have on these people who are used to paying in cash, ACTION and the office of transport would be prepared for it.

Constituents have contacted us about this surprise when they discovered that they faced a 49 per cent increase on some of their bus fares. What detail we do not have on these constituents is where they live, which buses they catch and at what time. This sort of information is relevant to knowing who will be impacted and how. If they are students living at home and catching the bus to uni, the impact on them may not be as

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