More Buses – Half the Fare

QUICK FACTS

• Average urban users will save $73 a month.
• Average rural users will save $150 a month.
• Supports 150,000 adult trips a month and over 200,000 concession trips a month on Metro services.
• Real time monitoring will be available in 2024.

Under our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future, a re-elected majority Liberal Government will:

• Immediately halve the cost of bus fares statewide.
• Halve the cost of Derwent Ferry fares.
• Deliver real time tracking on buses this year.
• Take control of the network and timetable to restore service reliability.
• Expand bus services to growing communities.

An important part of our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania's Future is delivering immediate cost of living relief and delivering a better public transport system.

Half Price Fares

Our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future has cost-of-living relief at its core. We know that Tasmanians are experiencing real cost-of-living pressures and that every dollar counts.

A re-elected majority Liberal Government will deliver immediate cost of living support to Tasmanians by halving the cost of bus fares and Derwent Ferry fares.

This measure will apply to all operators: school buses, general access buses and ferries, and across all fare types: adult, concession and students, delivering thousands of dollars daily in immediate relief to Tasmanians.

Half price fares will be implemented from 1 June 2024 until 30 June 2025, connecting Tasmanians right across the State.

This commitment will also increase public transport patronage, reducing congestion on our roads.

Under this commitment, a typical Metro fare will halve from $3.50 to $1.75, and a concession fare from $2.40 to $1.20.

Regional Tasmanians will see even bigger savings, such as Hobart to Bicheno from $24.00 down to $12.00; Smithton to Burnie $16.00 to $8.00, and Launceston to Hobart $33.60 down to $16.80.

Real Time Tracking

A re-elected majority Liberal Government will deliver real-time monitoring of our bus network this year. It will provide Tasmanian commuters with access to information about our public transport system they need and deserve.

The bus tracking system will vastly improve passenger information and the lives of bus users. This will mean less time waiting at the bus stop and more time at your destination or in the comfort of your own home.

This technology will capture information about the number of customers getting on or off in particular areas, giving a more accurate picture of how and when customers are travelling, which will make it easier for us to ensure the service meets the needs of Tasmanians.

More Services, More Often

A re-elected majority Liberal Government will take control of bus routes to deliver better bus services for Tasmanians.

We know that Metro Tasmania has struggled to deliver full services due to a lack of drivers. In addition to the $8.1 million support package already committed to help overcome the driver shortage, we will secure network and timetable efficiencies to restore service delivery.

A re-elected majority Liberal Government will also commit a further $15 million over four years to expand bus services to growing communities and schools, improving travel times and increasing access to employment, education and other services.

Large new subdivisions are being developed in areas without a current bus service, contributing to traffic congestion. The provision of new bus services to these areas at an early stage will help avoid entrenched private vehicle usage.

We will also introduce Sunday services in high-demand and fast-growing areas such as Brighton.

In addition, a re-elected majority Liberal Government will transform trial services into permanent services, such as the popular Huntingfield park and ride and the Kingborough and Huon Valley express services.

Net Cost:$14 million for the half price fares and $15 million over four years for better service delivery.