Sixteen officers are being recruited to boost ticket inspector numbers to combat a surge in fare evasion on Queensland’s public transport.
Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey says a significant jump in fare evaders on public transport, particularly school buses, was costing about $25 million a year in lost revenue.
Last financial year, Queensland’s school bus drivers recorded more than 1.53 million fare evasions, compared to about 875,000 the year before.
That trend was mirrored on urban bus services, where there were almost 600,000 more fare evasions in last year, compared to the year before.