O’FARRELL’S PRIVATISATION PLANS ANOTHER BROKEN PROMISE

Media Release | Monday, 4 June 2012

John Robertson MP, NSW Opposition Leader
Penny Sharpe MLC, Shadow Minister for Transport

O’FARRELL’S PRIVATISATION PLANS ANOTHER BROKEN PROMISE

BUS COMMUTERS TO FACE FEWER SERVICES, MORE DELAYS AND HIGHER FARES

The O’Farrell Government’s plan to privatise bus services will be disastrous for commuters – and see fewer services, more delays and higher fares, the NSW Labor Opposition said today.

“Commuters will suffer if the O’Farrell Government goes ahead with its plan to privatise the State Transit Authority,” Opposition Leader John Robertson said today.

“State Transit operates 16,000 services every working day, carrying more than 640,000 passengers across Sydney and the Hunter.

“Barry O’Farrell has no mandate to privatise our public buses. The Premier did not take his bus privatisation plan to the people of NSW at the last election.

"Instead, he promised he would improve public transport services, protect jobs and put downward pressure on cost of living expenses.

"The Premier has not kept his word – bus privatisation will lead to more bus delays, job cuts and higher fares.

"Barry O'Farrell's broken promises are starting to hurt hardworking people."

Last year, Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian said the government had no plan to privatise public transport:

“We do not support privatisation of transport services.”
(Hansard, 11 November 2011)

Shadow Transport Minister, Penny Sharpe said: “Since buses were privatised in Adelaide, one in two buses now arrive late or not at all.”

“By comparison, in 2010/11 95 per cent of Sydney buses started their journey on time and 99.84 per cent of all timetabled services operated.

“The O’Farrell Government’s moves have absolutely nothing to do with improving customer service and are all about meeting budget cuts for Treasury.

“The State Transit Authority’s expected surplus of $19 million this year will be used for capital works to improve services for passengers. If the buses were privatised, this profit would go straight to the coffers of a private company instead of the commuters of NSW.

“I fear fares will increase and services will be cut if the O’Farrell Government privatises our bus services. That means no more late night or early morning services, which private companies would see as less profitable, and higher fares.”