i'd prefer to have a simple, low charge for all public transport - say $2. we could save on administration, collection, ticketing, etc.

public transport is one of the services we pay for with our taxes. isn't that what taxes are for? public transport is meant to run at a "loss", as it is a public service.

just imagine what a wonderful public t'port system we could have here in brisneyland if the billions paid for our dud clem7 tunnel, airportlink, goodwill bridge and other large chunks of car-type infrastructra had never been built, and all the govt money invested in terrific, low cost public transport?

instead, we will have a big, fat new debts for many years. i guess the dud tunnels will serve as shelter places for the growing number of homeless people we are producing here. might also be able to grow some mushrooms in the dark tunnels......any other suggestions?

http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?article=11029#184959

individual, By that logic, we could also shut down all the railways, have more taxpayers money to build & maintain better road networks & buses on them for public transport.

There might also be more money for coastal shipping, digging a canal linking Spencers Gulf to Lake Eyre with canals leading away from Lake Eyre for river boat/barge transportation of goods to & from central Australia.

There is no reason why, as i said earlier with today's technology we could not develop a vehicle that is a hybrid of trains/trams/b double/triple road trains that could travel more efficiently on high quality freeways, made of reinforced concrete.

Just think how much more simple our infrastructure would be without ANY railroads OR monorails?

http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?article=11029#184865

Your Majesty, King Hazza, your quite correct on that one about subsidy. This is why Joh Peterson would be turning in his grave about the current Red/green/getup/labour Communist coalition QLD government selling off QR National.

You see the enormous profits they make on the coal transport was subsidising the losses made elsewhere in the railway network.

After the Communist Bligh has sold off QR National to foreign multi nationals, probably Asian & probably the Communist Chinese government.

The financial pressure on treasury to close down the rest of Qrail will be enormous, regardless of who is in power.

http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?article=11029#184947

Pelican, absolutely correct, but perhaps you missed my earlier comment about WHY there is less money around for basic Public Services like Public Transport.

Progressively over the last 50 years, governments on both sides & all 3 levels, have been pushed by shrieking "minority" groups to throw taxes at a bewildering array of other "thought bubble" ideas that are far removed from providing good old fashioned services like schools, hospitals or public transport.

I believe all welfare should be a one stop shop, & the same for all. It is wrong for some to come from the commonwealth, with top ups for some, & not others in state provided housing, transport, ambulance & other subsidies, then more from councils. If the commonwealth payments are too low, they should be increased.

AS a pensioner, I think the payments are perfectly adequate, & I see no reason why our kids, struggling with huge mortgage payments should be expected to supply further handouts, particularly through their rates.

Those of you in favour of more service would of course except that no increase in expenditure on existing services should occur until a similar level of service is extended to all. Equity would demand this. That being the case, expect to have a large increase in tour taxes.

The nearest public transport to me is 24Km away. I'm sure you would approve that I & the 2499 other people in my village should be entitled to some, before you get more.

We have no problem with the lack of expenditure on us, things remaining equal. However, if through some ideological desire you wish to make it harder for us to cater to our own needs, expect a fight. Self sufficiency is great, but it's about time city slickers stopped expecting us bushies to pay for your facilities, which don't extend to us

It just so happens that the concept of monorail as the original in Nuernberg Germany in the 1890's has always appealed to me. Just visualise the minimal impact to the environment. Then look at the simplicity of bridging. Hardly any clearing of forests would be needed when the rail could be running from support tower to support tower. We could have a freight system from Melbourne to Cape York or to Perth & Darwin. In fact a ring rail right around the continent . You could literally have a parrallel rail with service in either direction at the same time at a fraction of cost & environmental impact. Train collisions too would become a thing of the past. Transport & indeed the public would benefit greatly.

i cant/recall...now if i read it here[or if it was on the news]
but there was a study/of 5 capital cities...
cost of public transport..etc

the main issue to worth raising is..i note there are signs on busses[in brisbane]..saying number[xxx]/of 500 new busses...also many new busses...for a thing called the buz[local inner city/transport]

point being..that cost...has been made
that cost/has distorted the numbers
see those busses will be running for 20/30 years

[so saying they havnt paid..
is an absurdity/they only just been bought]

add/in things like the eastern/bus-way..still under construction
[that also wil-be found in the numbers..used for the 5 cities]
we see some real/spin..is being spun

govt has at all levels..decided to do this
now to say oh....it costs too much
we must sell it..

or increase the price
or whatever...the main/spin-point..for this topic..is
we are yet being conned..its as if [now we built it..we going to sell it..to mates ..of the govt...

just like govt allways does

recall..councils put-in..water/meters
then state govt privatised..the income

sure councils..are getting..a kick-back

but our water/costs have gone-up
and our rates..have gone up..too

dito all the other scam's
we sell an airport...then the airport adds extra value via the contracts..to build other business...

now we are paying for bypasses..
because of all..the extra..traffic-flow

nice nmoney if you can get it

dito the tunnels in nsw
and the rail...infastructure..failing due to privatisations

we are being scammed
again

public transport users are paying their way
[to work/back...thus too busy working..to protest in the streets]

lay-off...you guys that have nothing better to/do
than plan your next grand-scam...
your next[theft of]..public infastructure]

it should be free

you want the conveniance of a car
pay..the true-cost..

all cost paid via fuel..levies
[no tolls][no rego][no insurance]
if you bought..ya fuel...its coverd

and if govt makes ya licene useless..
via its many scams..taking points/cash

then public transport is free
free public/transport..might see the drunks off the roads too

I too have suggested more Monorails in the media for years Individual and to Economists. Their response [along with many OLO contributors last time Monorails or VFTs raised]: Australians and the Government cannot afford these; yet people are content losing family, friends and work colleagues in carnage on our roads each year.

Studies were conducted and found to be positive with the exception of funding.

Our country and the way people think is WAY behind and costing many lives.