Nearly 500 people have been fined for fare evading on public transport since the state’s 50¢ fare trial began on August 5.
Despite flat fares of 50¢, ticket inspectors handed out 475 on-the-spot fines to travellers who failed to “touch on” in the first two weeks of the six-month trial.
Not low enough: Despite the introduction of 50-cent fares, some Brisbane commuters are still not paying.Credit: Courtney Kruk
Another 2406 warnings were issued to adult passengers, and 1576 to minors.
An on-the-spot fine for fare evasion in Queensland is $322. This means the state has accumulated more than $150,000 in revenue from the penalties.
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Transport Minister Bart Mellish reminded passengers to tap on and off, telling the ABC that low-fares did not equal a free ride.
“You might be able to get a cone at McDonald’s for 50¢. That doesn’t mean you can go behind the counter and serve it yourself,” Mellish told the ABC.
“That is still theft and fare evasion is still fare evasion. We want to see people tapping on, tapping off so we know where people are coming from, where they’re going to, how they’re getting about our network.”
Premier Steven Miles announced the six-month trial of the flat fare for all trips back in May – five months out from the October election – as something he had always wanted to pursue.
At the time, he described the $150 million trial as a “use it or lose it” attempt to ease household costs and traffic congestion, while trying to drag stubbornly low patronage above pre-pandemic levels.
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