Public transport
Media release
23 September 2010
Moves to deter concession card holders from using public transport should not be open to discussion, spokesperson for National Seniors Australia (NSA), Paul Versteege, said yesterday.
Mr Versteege, who represents 270,000 members aged 50 plus Australia wide, lashed out at the discussion paper released this week by the Tourism and Transport Forum, the peak industry group for the Australian tourism, transport, aviation and investment sectors which advocates the public policy interests of the 200 most prestigious corporations and institutions in these sectors.
The discussion paper, Meeting the Funding Challenges of Public Transport, suggests that public transport would be more cost effective if concession card holders were discouraged from travelling in peak hour if they were made to pay more.
“To even consider cutting costs by targeting the most vulnerable in society is inconceivable. A large proportion of concession card holders are elderly and retired, struggling to make ends meet and prone to social isolation. Any move to further lower their quality of life should not even get an airing,” Mr Versteege said.
The paper acknowledges that “concession fares serve an important purpose in ensuring that everyone in society, even the most vulnerable groups, can afford access to the Australia’s transport system and then states that concession holders would be less likely to travel if the cost of doing so increased.
“While this alone is concerning it becomes even more dire when the paper details the “most prospective approaches” to deter concession card holders from using public transport in peak hours by: reducing the level of discount for all specific concession types; tightening concession eligibility; and reducing concession fare discounts or reducing concession discounts in peak hour, “ Mr Versteege said.
“It is all too easy to forget the human factor when money becomes the overriding concern,” he said.
“Aged pensioners do volunteer work for organisations, community centres, help with grandchildren and care for elderly parents and have to get to appointments, all of which may necessitate travel in peak hour.
“It needs to be remembered that aged pensioners have paid their taxes throughout their working lives to fund public services and should not be called on now to fund public transport via their meagre pension so that private enterprise can maximize profit on public transport,” Mr Versteege said.
With around 270,000 members - working and retired - across the country, National Seniors is the consumer lobby for older Australians. It is the fourth largest group of its kind in the world.
23 September 2010
Public transport discussion paper under fire
Moves to deter concession card holders from using public transport should not be open to discussion, spokesperson for National Seniors Australia (NSA), Paul Versteege, said yesterday.
Mr Versteege, who represents 270,000 members aged 50 plus Australia wide, lashed out at the discussion paper released this week by the Tourism and Transport Forum, the peak industry group for the Australian tourism, transport, aviation and investment sectors which advocates the public policy interests of the 200 most prestigious corporations and institutions in these sectors.
The discussion paper, Meeting the Funding Challenges of Public Transport, suggests that public transport would be more cost effective if concession card holders were discouraged from travelling in peak hour if they were made to pay more.
“To even consider cutting costs by targeting the most vulnerable in society is inconceivable. A large proportion of concession card holders are elderly and retired, struggling to make ends meet and prone to social isolation. Any move to further lower their quality of life should not even get an airing,” Mr Versteege said.
The paper acknowledges that “concession fares serve an important purpose in ensuring that everyone in society, even the most vulnerable groups, can afford access to the Australia’s transport system and then states that concession holders would be less likely to travel if the cost of doing so increased.
“While this alone is concerning it becomes even more dire when the paper details the “most prospective approaches” to deter concession card holders from using public transport in peak hours by: reducing the level of discount for all specific concession types; tightening concession eligibility; and reducing concession fare discounts or reducing concession discounts in peak hour, “ Mr Versteege said.
“It is all too easy to forget the human factor when money becomes the overriding concern,” he said.
“Aged pensioners do volunteer work for organisations, community centres, help with grandchildren and care for elderly parents and have to get to appointments, all of which may necessitate travel in peak hour.
“It needs to be remembered that aged pensioners have paid their taxes throughout their working lives to fund public services and should not be called on now to fund public transport via their meagre pension so that private enterprise can maximize profit on public transport,” Mr Versteege said.
Media contact: 07 3233 9135 or 3233 9106
With around 270,000 members - working and retired - across the country, National Seniors is the consumer lobby for older Australians. It is the fourth largest group of its kind in the world.
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