Media release – David O’Byrne MP, Member for Franklin, 2 March 2023

Ticket system fail deals another blow to public transport as Minister Ferguson runs Metro into the ground

Metro have cancelled over a thousand bus services over the last few weeks, but commuters and the travelling public have just been dealt another blow by the latest Liberal Government public transport failure.

Today, in response to a question from Franklin MP David O’Byrne, it was revealed that the new smart transport ticketing system promised in 2018 is still missing, with Transport Minister Michael Ferguson refusing to tell the parliament how much it will cost and when it will be ready.

“It’s been nearly five years since former Premier Will Hodgman announced this Government’s plan for new smart ticketing scheme. All we’ve seen since then is five years of consecutive delays and a project budget that has quadrupled to over $30m without explanation,” said Mr O’Byrne.

“Today, Transport Minister Michael Ferguson today could not say when the new system will arrive, how much it will cost, and what it might look like. How much more time does he need?

“The only thing Minister Ferguson has to show for the five years his Government have been working on this is that his department has advertised for a strategic marketing role for the project.

“Perhaps this role is to assist the Minister explain to Tasmanian public why this promised upgrade is still nowhere to be seen.

“Much like this Government’s mythical underground bus mall, this project is yet another example of the travelling public being let down by broken promises and false hope.

“If this Government claims that public transport is the lone answer to traffic congestion, then this is an absolute fail. The traveling public deserve better.”

Background information:

In 2018, the new ticketing system was budgeted at $7.5m and was due to be complete by 2021. In the 2021-22 budget papers, the projected cost of the project had inexplicably increased to $29.5m.

Details about the scheme including the cost and completion date were curiously omitted from the latest budget papers, although Metro have publically indicated the new scheme will cost $31.5m.