New changes in the go card exclude incentive `9 and free`

Thursday, 16 of Jun 2016
By Jaqueline Zanoveli

The Queensland Government has announced some changes in the fares prices and incentives. From January 2017, the cost of one zone local trips is going to be $3.20, in adult go card, in contrast to the prior value that was $3.35.

Another big change is about the incentive ‘9 and Free’ that will be removed. To replace it, the Government is going to introduce a new one, which allows the passengers to earn 50 per cent off after eight paid journeys.

The reform include reducing the number of zones from 23 to 8 wider zones, making, according to the Government, local travel more affordable. In addition, the weekday morning off-peak period, that was from 7pm to 3am is going to be extended to 6am. Children aged 5 to 14 will be allowed to have a free weekend travel, if using the child go card.

As said, one of the biggest changes are going to be the introduction of an ‘8 paid journeys and 50 per cent off subsequent journeys per week’ incentive to replace the ‘9 and Free’.

Besides that, concession fares to unemployed people receiving the Newstart Allowance and Youth Allowance, and asylum seekers will be introduced from early 2017, pending discussions with Federal agencies.

All changes are a response to the Fare Review Taskforce, whose expert-led had presented 17 recommendations to the Queensland Government.

Public authority established a South East Queensland (SEQ) Fare Review Taskforce of public transport experts and customer advocates to provide recommendations on fare reform. According to them, under this fare reform 93 per cent of customers will pay less with opportunities for more families and individuals to benefit from travelling by public transport.