Media release – Michael Ferguson, Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, 3 July 2023
More affordable, attractive public transport around Tasmania
The Rockliff Liberal Government is making bus fares simpler, fairer and more affordable.
Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Michael Ferguson, said that as a result, almost all trips will either cost less or be the same under the new arrangements that take effect from Monday 10 July.
“Fares will be based on distance, no matter where passengers travel,” Mr Ferguson said.
“Ninety-nine per cent of trips statewide will cost the same or be cheaper.
“Fares will be based on ten-kilometre increments along each route, measured from the central interchanges in Hobart, Launceston, Devonport and Burnie.”
Under the new fare structure, 95 per cent of the bus routes will stay the same, four per cent will be cheaper and these are all in regional areas.
Your fare may change if you are an adult or adult concession passenger and travel in the non-urban area. Your fare will not change if you are a child/student.
Urban and child/student fares remain the same statewide.
Daily caps, Daytripper tickets, and 20 per cent discounts for smartcards and 10-trip tickets, where available, will not change.
Mr Ferguson said Tasmania’s legacy public transport fare structure was complex and confusing.
“Fares for trips of the same distance in different parts of the state are sometimes inconsistent and difficult to understand,” he said.
“Fares haven’t changed for several years, and because most fares will be the same or cheaper under the new structure, it is not designed to increase fare revenue but to encourage more people to use public transport.”
“Applying an equitable and uniform fare structure across the entire state is also an important precursor to the common ticketing solution, which the Government announced last month.”
Adult and adult concession non-urban Greencard holders will need to update their default trip to match new non-urban zone boundaries. Transportme holders are not required to update their cards.
To learn more, visit https://www.transport.tas.gov.au/public_transport/fares and use the fare calculator tool, talk to your bus operator, or contact the Department of State Growth at [email protected] or 6166 3343.
Media release – Michael Ferguson, Minister for Infrastructure and Transport; Roger Jaensch, Minister for Environment and Climate Change; Guy Barnett, Minister for Energy and Renewables, 3 July 2023
Zero Emissions Bus Trial moves closer
Metro Tasmania is closer to getting the wheels on the ground for the Rockliff Liberal Government’s Zero Emission Bus Trial operational trials.
Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Michael Ferguson, said Metro Tasmania will conduct trials of three battery electric buses in Launceston and three hydrogen fuel cell electric buses in Hobart for up to three years.
“Foton Mobility, Custom Bus Group and H2H Energy have been appointed as suppliers for the trials,” Mr Ferguson said.
“Foton Mobility will supply and maintain the hydrogen fuel cell buses and is an Australian-owned alternative-fuel heavy vehicle distributor specialising in leading zero-emissions transport in Australia.
“Custom Bus Group will supply the battery electric buses and associated battery chargers and provide training in maintenance and operation to Metro. Custom operates in Australia and the UK manufacturing electric buses, providing a holistic approach for zero-emissions mobility.
“These clean energy vehicles could be the catalyst for the eventual full transformation of our public bus fleet.”
Minister for the Environment and Climate Change, Roger Jaensch, said the Zero Emissions Bus Trial was an important part of achieving our target of net zero emissions, or lower, from 2030.
“Transport accounts for some 21 per cent of our state-wide emissions (excluding land use and forestry) so trialling clean fuel options is an opportunity to reduce Tasmania’s emissions and will provide valuable lessons in the transition to zero emissions technology,” Mr Jaensch said.
“H2H Energy will supply and maintain the hydrogen refuelling station at Metro’s Mornington depot and is an Australian-owned company specialising in hydrogen production, storage and use.”
Minister for Energy and Renewables, Guy Barnett, said “Importantly, proving that the use of hydrogen in the transport sector in Tasmania is viable reinforces our goal of establishing a green hydrogen hub at Bell Bay.
“The Blue Economy CRC is a key partner of the bus trial, and it is expected that it will be supplying the green hydrogen to fuel the buses from its 700 kW electrolyser,” Minister Barnett said.
“All up we are providing $6 million for Metro to conduct the battery electric buses trial and up to $11.3 million for the hydrogen fuel cell electric bus trial and Tasmania’s first hydrogen refueller.”
Media release – Cassy O’Connor MP, Greens Leader and Member for Clark, 23 June 2023
Time to Put Light Rail Back on the Table
Light rail is the high-quality public transport solution nipaluna/Hobart deserves but the Rockliff minority government plans to rip up the tracks and put in a boring busway.
Transport Minister Michael Ferguson continues to pretend his northern suburbs bus proposal for the rail corridor is more economically viable, but that just isn’t supported by evidence.
The government-commissioned comparative study work confirmed light rail is not only possible on the existing corridor, it would be more popular, and generate more social and economic activity. It would also be a much better use of taxpayer funds.
The Liberals’ plan will cost $50M a kilometre for buses that would hold only dozens of people. It might look cheaper in the short term, but the economic and social benefits would fall way below the light rail option.
The Northern Suburbs Rail Action Group’s warning to the AFL is right – rapid buses will fail. While we don’t support the proposed stadium at Macquarie Point, adding in a second-rate transport option would only make it worse.
Light rail is significantly more popular than buses – a Western Australian project to rip up a bus line and create light rail saw a quadrupling of patronage. It would also stimulate more urban growth and jobs.
If the Rockliff minority government is serious about delivering a world-class transport solution for Hobart and its northern suburbs, they should abandon rapid buses and commit to the best option – light rail.
