Media Release

3 April 2007

CHANGES TO BUS TRANSPORT IN TASMANIA

The Tasmanian Governments Review into the states public transport services will have a dramatic impact on transport services delivered by buses throughout Tasmania and this has prompted changes to the Tasmanian Bus Association to meet the challenges.

TasBus (formerly the Tasmanian Bus Association) is set to step up its efforts to bring Tasmania’s public transport services in line with other Australian states and territories.

General Manager Geoff Lewis said public transport services in Tasmania were in dire need of improvement at every level.

“Our industry is keen to make a start on implementing beneficial reforms in partnership with the community and government,” he said.

He said the Tasmanian Government’s Review into the state’s public transport services, the Core Passenger Transport Service Review, recommendations for which will be handed to the government by 30 June.

“While implementing the recommendations from the review will be a challenge for our industry, we see it is a critical opportunity and a big first step towards bringing Tasmania’s public transport services up to the same standard as other Australian states and territories, something the Tasmanian community deserves,” he said.

“It will cause enormous challenges to the bus passenger transport industry and public transport service users, but the organisation is preparing to meet these challenges head on.”

Some of the issues under consideration by the Review are:

o       bus routes

o       service standards

o       bus safety

o       provision of urban services in the four main population centres of Hobart, Launceston, Devonport and Burnie and their urban fringe areas

o       fares, allowances, and the provision of concessions and other forms of assistance to passengers

o       payments to bus service operators

o       investigating service inefficiencies, anomalies and inconsistencies

Mr Lewis said it had been 10 years since the government first introduced legislation aimed at reforming bus passenger transport in Tasmania.

“The legislation was introduced at that time because it was recognised that there had been structural inefficiencies and inequities in the passenger transport system for at least 20 years prior to that,” he said.

Mr Lewis said in addition to the name change, TasBus had reviewed and modernised its approach in all areas of activity to meet the challenges ahead.

“We will be a very active participant in the Review considerations, while continuing to promote the many benefits of public transport to the government and the general community in Tasmania,” he said.

“TasBus and its member bus companies will have much work to do through the reform process.

“We intend to ensure that implementation of much needed change is completed in a timely manner so that we can all start to enjoy some long awaited improvements to our transport services.”