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AAP
AAP
Politics
Fraser Barton

Ride for free, Greens push for no cost public transport

The Greens want public transport to be free for all Queenslanders. (Darren England/AAP PHOTOS)

Public transport would be free and accessibility improved for all Queenslander's in a motion put to state parliament by the Greens.

Maiwar MP and Queensland Greens leader Michael Berkman put the motion on Wednesday and said the funding to boost public transport would be $275 million.

The motion also called for a binding, funded plan to upgrade all train stations to federal disability standards, for the network to be expanded and for dedicated bus lanes to be built on key transport corridors. 

"Queenslanders are really struggling with unnecessarily high transport costs and already stretched budgets," Mr Berkman told AAP. 

"If Queensland Labor can afford billions of dollars to demolish and rebuild the Gabba stadium, then they can afford to make this change for the good of Queenslanders everywhere."

Mr Berkman said the government currently subsidised public transport tickets to the cost of 83 per cent for each trip.

Michael Berkman
Greens leader Michael Berkman says public transport should be free like any other public service.

The extra $275 million figure would cover the balance and spur Queenslander's to ride the buses and trains, he said.

"The reality is Queenslanders aren't expected to pay when they show up to hospital and notionally, we're not supposed to have to pay to go to school," he said.

"Public transport should be treated like any other public service and it should be free and accessible to all Queenslanders."

Mr Berkman said the cost of ticketing and enforcement were unnecessary.

"It makes intuitive sense for people that I've spoken to, that public transport shouldn't cost us money," he said.

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