Hon George Cash asks about the costs and revenues of metropolitan bus and train services and any cost-benefit studies on free public transport. Hon Adele Farina provides the requested financial data and states the government prioritizes service expansion over fare reduction.

AnsweredQoN 1181Legislative Council
Asked
5 December 2006
Portfolio
Planning and Infrastructure

QuestionView source ↗

PUBLIC TRANSPORT - METROPOLITAN AREA
(1) What was the cost of administrative and operating expenses for metropolitan bus services and metropolitan train services and how much revenue was derived from fares in the financial years 2004-05 and 2005-06? (2) Is the minister aware of any cost-benefit studies carried out to consider the public policy issue of providing free public transport in the metropolitan area or other areas in the state; and, if so, will the minister provide a description of the articles? Hon ADELE FARINA

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) The cost of administrative and operating expenses, excluding capital, was: buses, $171.283 million in 2004-05, and $195.841 million in 2005-06; and trains, $93.924 million in 2004-05, and $106.916 million in 2005-06. The revenue derived from bus fares was $45.288 million in 2004-05 and $47.794 million in 2005-06, and the revenue derived from train fares was $28.716 million in 2004-05 and $30.292 million in 2005-06. It is the government’s view that the revenue received helps expand services, and the expansion of services is more critical than reducing costs to those who already enjoy the services.
(2) Is the minister aware of any cost-benefit studies carried out to consider the public policy issue of providing free public transport in the metropolitan area or other areas in the state; and, if so, will the minister provide a description of the articles? Hon ADELE FARINA replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) The cost of administrative and operating expenses, excluding capital, was: buses, $171.283 million in 2004-05, and $195.841 million in 2005-06; and trains, $93.924 million in 2004-05, and $106.916 million in 2005-06. The revenue derived from bus fares was $45.288 million in 2004-05 and $47.794 million in 2005-06, and the revenue derived from train fares was $28.716 million in 2004-05 and $30.292 million in 2005-06. It is the government’s view that the revenue received helps expand services, and the expansion of services is more critical than reducing costs to those who already enjoy the services.
Hon ADELE FARINA replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) The cost of administrative and operating expenses, excluding capital, was: buses, $171.283 million in 2004-05, and $195.841 million in 2005-06; and trains, $93.924 million in 2004-05, and $106.916 million in 2005-06. The revenue derived from bus fares was $45.288 million in 2004-05 and $47.794 million in 2005-06, and the revenue derived from train fares was $28.716 million in 2004-05 and $30.292 million in 2005-06. It is the government’s view that the revenue received helps expand services, and the expansion of services is more critical than reducing costs to those who already enjoy the services.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) The cost of administrative and operating expenses, excluding capital, was: buses, $171.283 million in 2004-05, and $195.841 million in 2005-06; and trains, $93.924 million in 2004-05, and $106.916 million in 2005-06. The revenue derived from bus fares was $45.288 million in 2004-05 and $47.794 million in 2005-06, and the revenue derived from train fares was $28.716 million in 2004-05 and $30.292 million in 2005-06. It is the government’s view that the revenue received helps expand services, and the expansion of services is more critical than reducing costs to those who already enjoy the services.
(1)-(2) The cost of administrative and operating expenses, excluding capital, was: buses, $171.283 million in 2004-05, and $195.841 million in 2005-06; and trains, $93.924 million in 2004-05, and $106.916 million in 2005-06. The revenue derived from bus fares was $45.288 million in 2004-05 and $47.794 million in 2005-06, and the revenue derived from train fares was $28.716 million in 2004-05 and $30.292 million in 2005-06. It is the government’s view that the revenue received helps expand services, and the expansion of services is more critical than reducing costs to those who already enjoy the services.

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