Below is an email exchange with Erin from the Translink Stakeholder Relations Team regarding the new Business Go Cards. We're stunned at the absurdity of the response which took a few days for Erin to draft. We feel the response is not only inadequate but deluded. If an organisation like Translink produces such deluded correspondence in defence of it's actions, this speaks volumes about the health of it's organisational culture. The below response is evidence that Translink is a truly sick organisation and that the supposed integrated ticketing they are responsible for is an utter failure.
The 2 new specialist Go Cards that are apparently part of a "pilot program". |
Hello,
I'm
seeking information about the costs to business and event organisers to
provide the new Go Access Go Card to employees and event attendees.
I
note that the Transport Minister Stirling Hinchcliffe has made no
statements regarding the new Go Access Go Card and has offered no
reasons for the development of these new ticketing products.
If
the costs to businesses and event organisers is minimal then is it not
the public purse that bears the burden of journeys made with Go Access
Go Cards? It is irresponsible and fundamentally untransparent to launch
this product without thorough disclosure of costs and evidence that
equity issues have been given full consideration.
Right now the public have very little information to inform them of any justifications/rational for this product.
We
could see a large portion of CBD commuters provided this product
creating 2 tiers of commuter. Is a sandwich hand or sales assistant
likely to receive a Go Access Go Card? Does the existence of yet another
specialist Go Card product indicate fundamental problems with network
design and failure of integrated ticketing?
An
unemployed person will spend $6.70 minimum to attend a job interview or
appointment with an employment provider on the Translink SEQ network.
Please provide a prompt response.
Regards
Michael Swifte
Page Manager
The Translink Ripoff
Good afternoon Michael,
In response to your enquiry regarding our
go Access Corporate Events Card, I hope the following information is of assistance.
TransLink works hard to make sure public transport is encouraged and easily accessible to all Queenslanders and our visitors.
The
go access Corporate Events Card
is
currently being piloted in south-east Queensland with the aim of
attracting conference organisers to hold their event in Queensland. The
pilot also aims to
encourage event attendees to get out and about and spend locally while
they are in this part of the State.
This
product, details of which have been on the TransLink website since mid
last year, are only available to eligible event-associated organisations
through direct order from TransLink. These organisations pay in advance
for this bulk purchase as part of their conference or event offering.
Event organisers will often add on margins above the card price to cover
their event expenses. The card is self-sufficient
and does not require public money to sustain it.
A
minimum bulk order of 50 cards (adult cards only) must be purchased at
$12 each for use over three days. Additional days can be added at a cost
of $4 per day and limited to a maximum of eight days. The product can
only be used for the number of days purchased and expires at the end of
the event. The price of the product has been set to cover costs, based
on the average value of travel taken by event
delegates.
The
government has been praised by the tourism and events industry for
introducing this product due to the revenue and awareness it brings for
our
state and the easy public transport access it offers visitors. The card
has also received praise from international and national delegates who
have been keen to explore similar initiatives due to its success. This
product elevates our credentials on an international
scale as a competitive event location as organisers are easily able to
organise cost-effective travel for attendees.
Not
only does this product help reduce road congestion by encouraging
public transport use but it also helps support our state through the
extra
revenue generated by national and international attendees as they
explore and spend locally.
The
corporate event card will be rolled out more broadly as the ongoing
success of the pilot continues. TransLink will continue to develop
ticketing
options that respond to customer needs.
Many thanks, Erin.
Government and Stakeholder Relations Team
Office of the Deputy Director-General
TransLink Division | Department of Transport and Main Roads
TransLink Division | Department of Transport and Main Roads
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