Media Statement - 1st November 2007
A Rudd Labor Government will invest $50 million to establish A National Reciprocal Public Transport Entitlement to ensure State Government Senior’s Card holders can travel at concessional rates anywhere in Australia.
This is one part of Federal Labor’s Making Ends Meet plan announced today for older Australians, people with disabilities and carers.
A Rudd Labor Government will provide $50 million over four years from 2008‑09 towards a new national reciprocal transport entitlement for State Government Seniors Card holders.
This will mean around 3 million Australians including State Government Seniors Card holders will be able to access general public transport concessions that apply in the State or Territory they are visiting.
For example, a bus driver in New South Wales will be able to apply the standard concession when an older Australian presents a valid State Government Seniors Card even if it is from another State or Territory.
This will include long distance rail travel on routes like the Indian Pacific, the Ghan and the Overland.
Reciprocal transport concessions will help older Australians who like to travel to visit their grandchildren and see the country.
Federal Labor will end the buck-passing between the States and the Commonwealth.
Before the 2001 federal election, Mr Howard pledged a national transport concession scheme for seniors - but he did not deliver on his promise. Federal Labor will deliver on this commitment.
Currently, when they travel
interstate many State Government Seniors Card holders cannot access local public
transport concessions because their home state card is not recognised.
Previous efforts to enable State Government Seniors Card holders to access public rail, ferry, tram and bus concessions throughout the country have failed because the Howard Government has been unwilling to put sufficient funding toward realising this important outcome.
A Rudd Labor Government will negotiate with State and Territory Governments to ensure national reciprocal public transport concessions for seniors are in place by no later than 1 January 2009.