IN AN effort to make getting about a lot more cost-effective, the Crisafulli Government has made Queensland’s public transport 50-cent fares permanent.

The announcement was made and locked in law following the recent State Government Budget.

The Budget also delivered announcements on generational infrastructure on the Sunshine and Gold Coast, fixes to the Bruce Highway, and projects to make safer and more resilient regional roads.

The $55.9 billion Budget for safer roads and better transport is strengthening the foundations for a fresh start by building Queensland’s future.

The 50-cent fares were a public transport initiative which were originally launched by the former Labor Government as a six-month trial.

Following the trial, the Crisafulli LNP Government made the 50-cent fares permanent across the state, and those are now locked in law.

The Crisafulli LNP Government critiqued the work of the former government, stating they were “a pre-election sugar hit, spending more on advertising the trial than on making it permanent, and didn’t fund the scheme beyond a trial.”

The Safer Roads, Better Transport Budget highlights include:  
*The Better Buses Build will secure up to 630 new buses, to help upgrade the fleet in South East Queensland.
*Fixing the Bruce Highway with critical safety works under the jointly-funded $9 billion program, under a restored 80:20 funding deal with the Federal Government.
*A record $55 billion roads and rail pipeline, to continue progressing projects across the state, including the Caloundra Congestion Busting Plan, the *Mooloolah River Interchange Upgrade, the Bribie Island Bridge and the Barron River Bridge.
*Stage 1 of The Wave all the way to Caloundra is underway with contracts for construction awarded and funded in this budget. Planning is progressing for Stages 2 and 3 extending through to Birtinya and the Maroochydore CBD, then on to the Sunshine Coast Airport.
*The $100 million Country Roads Connect program is delivering upgrades to unsealed regional roads, boosting safety and flood resilience.