Shadow Minister for Environment: O'FARRELL LIES ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT FARES

O'FARRELL LIES ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT FARES

Barry O'Farrell is misleading the public by suggesting that future public transport fare increases will result from the carbon price, the Shadow Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Luke Foley said today.

"Barry O'Farrell is making the most outlandish claims about the carbon price - to soften people up for steep increases to Government fares, charges and taxes, and for harsh service cuts in his Budget," said Mr Foley. 

"Federal Treasury modelling predicts public transport fare increases of 0.5 per cent, an average of 10 cents a week.

"These are the same analysts who got the GST modelling right and were tasked with designing the carbon pricing scheme.

"The fact is that 9 in 10 households will receive Commonwealth Government assistance to meet the impact of carbon pricing.

"If Barry O'Farrell wants to cast aside the Independent Price Regulator to increase public transport fares, I will personally refer him to the ACCC for price gouging," declared Mr Foley.

Claims that bus fares will somehow increase are simply wrong. Heavy on-road transport won't be covered until 2014/15, so bus fares won't rise one cent as a result of carbon pricing during that period. Most STA buses run on compressed natural gas, so they will never be subject to the carbon price.

Today's sham modelling confirms that Mr O'Farrell will say anything in order to gain political advantage. He invented a budget black hole on his first day as Premier, now he's lying about the impact of the carbon price.

The ACCC will now have a dedicated team to take on any business which makes false and misleading claims about the impact of the carbon price on the prices it charges its customers.

"The ACCC's first investigation should be into Mr O'Farrell's false and misleading claims," said Mr Foley.

Contact: Luke Foley 0417 494 802