The philosophically driven Conservative Government in NSW is hell bent on privatizing as much of the State’s essential public transport network as possible. All thinking people would agree public transport is an essential service which cannot be run simply as a profit making concern, without disastrous consequences. Either the Conservatives are believing otherwise, or they are trying desperately to hide the actual cost of privatization in political Mumbo Jumbo Land.

The questions being asked by those concerned about the direction public transport is heading in NSW include;

Are you sick and tired of long hours commuting to and from work?

Do you wish you had access to more convenient and reliable public transport services?

Are you frustrated that Governments find billions to spend on roads, but public transport is constantly overlooked?

Do you think it's time State and Federal Governments started taking public transport seriously?

And the voters are answering YES! To all these questions.

The judgement on privatization, is likely to be delivered at the next election. And its not going to be good news for these conservative ideologues.

Public transport in SA has long been operated by private contractors, instigated by SOCIALIST governments. When I used the service 20 odd years ago for getting to work, I was impressed by the improvement. Most of the old government drivers left, frightened of private system and we're replaced by cheerful, helpful drivers who appeared to be not resentful and grudging, and the buses actually turned up. I would hate to see our public transport system back in the hands of sour, resentful government unionists.

Quote. "All thinking people would agree public transport is an essential service which cannot be run simply as a profit making concern, without disastrous consequences" How typically green bureaucratic & arrogant of you Paul, if people don't agree with you they are wrong.

Well I couldn't disagree with you more. I find almost nothing more offensive than the sight of tens of thousands of public servants riding the obscenely highly subsidised public transport into their inner city "work" places, while those who pay their salaries are driving to work, paying huge taxes on their fuel to subsidise said public transport.

Public transport can never service anywhere but high number work places. It is useless for most of the working population who aren't city or large suburb centre workers. It is equally useless for parents who have kids to drop at childcare or school, or those who have to do chores on the way.

I don't give a damn who runs it, but all public transport must become not only full cost recovery, but profit centres. It is totally wrong for those covering their own full costs, [plus taxes] should have bludgers riding on their backs.

Private bus companies cost a hell of a lot less to run than the government variety. Meanwhile the total failure of the management of both Brisbane & Sydney metropolitan rail services prove bureaucrats should never be allowed to run anything. Even a pub chook raffle is beyond their meagre capabilities.

No transport system can be run by bureaucrats without huge cost overruns, & the total stuff ups seen in the Oz metropolitan services. Get the government sheltered workshops out of there, & public transport might just be viable, but only as a business, not a cost to tax payers who can't benefit from it. That is the way real disaster lies.

The South Australian Government is shelling out $300 million to replace Adelaide's ageing bus fleet. You call that being run by private enterprise.
Public transport run by private operators, ends up a second rate system that has to be propped up by taxpayer money.

The privatization of Sydney's ferries;

A report for IPART, by the consultant Sapere Research Group, said the economic benefit of running Sydney Ferries, mainly taking cars off the road, was only $700,000.

Against this, Sydney Ferries receives taxpayer subsidies of about $80 million a year.

Dear Paul,

This is what's happening in Victoria - it may be of
interest:

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/privatise-public-transport-and-reap-the-benefits-infrastructure-australia-says-20170525-gwcymv.html

Paul -
There are many different models of privatization. Adelaide opted for large contracts to operate buses that remained in government ownership. It's not how I would have done it, but it did produce an improvement. The former STA had industrial relations problems that the private operators were able to sort out.

Regarding Sydney Ferries: AIUI the government were unwilling to make the long term investments needed, and their short tern budgetary restrictions led to false economies. Privatisation freed them from this constraint, leading to genuine efficiency improvements.

It is very very very important to note that (contrary to what some governments think) privatization is not a panacea and doesn't automatically bring any benefits. But it often brings some.

BTW that Sapere report on Sydney Ferries failed to take into account the effects of ferry services on land value.