Public transport ticket upgrade runs late, over budget
Commuters will be waiting even longer to tap on and off public transport with phones and credit cards as a ticketing system overhaul falters.
Buried deep within Tuesday's 2025/26 Victorian budget, the Labor government revealed an upgrade of the state's myki system would be delivered over time and budget.
It was announced in February train passengers would be able to travel with bank cards and their phones from 2026, with 22,000 myki readers to be replaced across the network.
But the budget papers showed the replacement ticket reader program will take up to 18 months longer to finish and cost an extra $137 million.
The project was costed at $543.6 million in the last budget but the figure has blown out to $680.4 million following a "program reset".
The completion date has also shifted from mid-2027 to late 2028 after the finalisation of ticketing reader design requirements for some trams.
New Jersey-based company Conduent was awarded a $1.7 billion to overhaul and operate the myki system for the next 15 years.
NSW's Opal system has allowed passengers to tap on and off with their bank card or their phone since 2019 and ticketless travel is available on most of Queensland's network.
Victorian Opposition Leader Brad Battin scoffed at the delay.
"We'll be the last state in the world that you can use a phone to tap on," he said.
"If you go to Japan, if you go to New York, if you go England ... you can travel and use your phone."
The Allan government maintained Victorians would be able to touch on with their credit cards, smartphones and watches from early 2026, saying the changes were part of a staged rollout.
"We want to do this once and do it right, learning from experiences overseas and in other states," a government spokesman said.
Treasurer Jaclyn Symes will begin to sell her first budget on Wednesday at a business event in Melbourne.
The budget spruiked a $2.3 billion cost-of-living package, record health spending, no new taxes and a return to a $600 million operating surplus next financial year.
But net debt is on track to hit $194 billion by 2028/29, sending interest repayments soaring close to $29 million a day.
Ms Symes called it a "responsible budget" but it hasn't received an overly warm reception from business, property and development groups.
"While we welcome no new taxes and the operating surplus, the incentives to grow and propel the private sector are modest," Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Paul Guerra said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Age
an hour ago
- The Age
Police to get extra $150m as LNP vows no budget austerity
Premier David Crisafulli has announced almost $150 million in extra police funding will feature in his government's 2025-26 fiscal blueprint, as the Labor opposition embarks on a statewide pre-budget media blitz. Treasurer David Janetzki will hand down the first LNP budget since 2014 on Tuesday, which will be delivered with the backdrop of a cut in GST revenue. But both the treasurer and premier were at pains on Monday to assure Queenslanders austerity was not on the agenda. 'Today's announcement, $147.9 million into the services of the front line, is a perfect example of the kinds of investment that we'll be discussing tomorrow,' Janetzki said. 'This investment into the front line, supporting the work of our brave men and women on the front line, is exactly the kind of investment that needs to be made and is the targeted and focused point of delivery for our government, and I look forward to sharing more tomorrow.' Speaking at Wacol on Monday morning, Crisafulli said the extra money would go towards police equipment, such as tasers, body armour, tire deflation devices, body-worn camera and tactical first aid kits. 'This money wasn't budgeted,' he said. 'It will be now and it will be into the forwards. It will be there to make sure that when police go out to do their job, they know that they have the equipment to do their job.' Labor frontbenchers, meanwhile, fronted media in Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton, Bundaberg, Toowoomba and the Gold and Sunshine coasts in an 11th-hour push for local projects and services.
Sydney Morning Herald
an hour ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Police to get extra $150m as LNP vows no budget austerity
Premier David Crisafulli has announced almost $150 million in extra police funding will feature in his government's 2025-26 fiscal blueprint, as the Labor opposition embarks on a statewide pre-budget media blitz. Treasurer David Janetzki will hand down the first LNP budget since 2014 on Tuesday, which will be delivered with the backdrop of a cut in GST revenue. But both the treasurer and premier were at pains on Monday to assure Queenslanders austerity was not on the agenda. 'Today's announcement, $147.9 million into the services of the front line, is a perfect example of the kinds of investment that we'll be discussing tomorrow,' Janetzki said. 'This investment into the front line, supporting the work of our brave men and women on the front line, is exactly the kind of investment that needs to be made and is the targeted and focused point of delivery for our government, and I look forward to sharing more tomorrow.' Speaking at Wacol on Monday morning, Crisafulli said the extra money would go towards police equipment, such as tasers, body armour, tire deflation devices, body-worn camera and tactical first aid kits. 'This money wasn't budgeted,' he said. 'It will be now and it will be into the forwards. It will be there to make sure that when police go out to do their job, they know that they have the equipment to do their job.' Labor frontbenchers, meanwhile, fronted media in Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton, Bundaberg, Toowoomba and the Gold and Sunshine coasts in an 11th-hour push for local projects and services.
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Latest technology for police amid crime crackdown
Police will be equipped with the latest technology as a state government maintains its crime crackdown in a milestone budget. Queensland's Liberal National government will commit nearly $150 million to police in Tuesday's budget, with new tasers, tyre deflation devices, body-worn cameras and tactical first aid kits to be deployed. "Things that can allow police to do their job and do them well," Premier David Crisafulli said on Monday. The budget will mark the LNP government's first since 2014 after it campaigned hard on crime to claim election success last year. The Queensland government's first eight months in power has introduced controversial "adult crime, adult time" legislation that ensures youth offenders are sentenced as adults on a range of charges. Its upcoming budget will feature $147.9 million to deliver more than 6500 state-of-the-art tasers and upgrade body-worn cameras with radios and livestreaming capabilities. The new tasers are key for the police force as they give officers four times the safe operating distance - around 14 metres - to deploy the device, Acting Police Commissioner Shane Chelepy said. Queensland Police were the first to use the latest Taser model outside the United States when the device was first introduced in 2023 but now thousands more officers will be equipped. Other states and territories are also beginning to provide the latest model to their police force. There have been 2000 situations in Queensland this year where officers considered using force, with 400 cases of tasers being deployed, Mr Chelepy said. Police have used lethal force on five occasions, with one shooting death so far this year. "The reason tasers are so effective is that they actually prevent police from having to use lethal force when we're responding to these critical incidents," Mr Chelepy said. The budget will also feature funding to fulfil the government's election campaign promises, with $50 million over five years for four new or expanded Crime Prevention Schools. Gold Coast-based "Men of Business" is the first school to operate, expanded to grades seven to 12 to help divert kids from a life of crime. The government has committed to other schools in Townsville, Rockhampton and Ipswich. North Queensland, including Townsville and Cairns which are often touted as the state's crime capitals, will also receive a "significant" boost to prevention in the budget, Mr Crisafulli said. "It needs to be," he said. "Those regions have been front row of the youth crime crisis, and those regions will get their fair share and a little bit more to deal with the crime crisis." Other crime prevention initiatives including "Jack's Law", which was recently made permanent, will also receive budget funding to equip more officers with weapon-wanding devices. The legislation, named after teen Jack Beasley who was fatally stabbed on the Gold Coast, allows police to wand for weapons in nightlife areas, public transport and supermarkets. Treasurer David Janetzki will hand down the budget on Tuesday afternoon. Police will be equipped with the latest technology as a state government maintains its crime crackdown in a milestone budget. Queensland's Liberal National government will commit nearly $150 million to police in Tuesday's budget, with new tasers, tyre deflation devices, body-worn cameras and tactical first aid kits to be deployed. "Things that can allow police to do their job and do them well," Premier David Crisafulli said on Monday. The budget will mark the LNP government's first since 2014 after it campaigned hard on crime to claim election success last year. The Queensland government's first eight months in power has introduced controversial "adult crime, adult time" legislation that ensures youth offenders are sentenced as adults on a range of charges. Its upcoming budget will feature $147.9 million to deliver more than 6500 state-of-the-art tasers and upgrade body-worn cameras with radios and livestreaming capabilities. The new tasers are key for the police force as they give officers four times the safe operating distance - around 14 metres - to deploy the device, Acting Police Commissioner Shane Chelepy said. Queensland Police were the first to use the latest Taser model outside the United States when the device was first introduced in 2023 but now thousands more officers will be equipped. Other states and territories are also beginning to provide the latest model to their police force. There have been 2000 situations in Queensland this year where officers considered using force, with 400 cases of tasers being deployed, Mr Chelepy said. Police have used lethal force on five occasions, with one shooting death so far this year. "The reason tasers are so effective is that they actually prevent police from having to use lethal force when we're responding to these critical incidents," Mr Chelepy said. The budget will also feature funding to fulfil the government's election campaign promises, with $50 million over five years for four new or expanded Crime Prevention Schools. Gold Coast-based "Men of Business" is the first school to operate, expanded to grades seven to 12 to help divert kids from a life of crime. The government has committed to other schools in Townsville, Rockhampton and Ipswich. North Queensland, including Townsville and Cairns which are often touted as the state's crime capitals, will also receive a "significant" boost to prevention in the budget, Mr Crisafulli said. "It needs to be," he said. "Those regions have been front row of the youth crime crisis, and those regions will get their fair share and a little bit more to deal with the crime crisis." Other crime prevention initiatives including "Jack's Law", which was recently made permanent, will also receive budget funding to equip more officers with weapon-wanding devices. The legislation, named after teen Jack Beasley who was fatally stabbed on the Gold Coast, allows police to wand for weapons in nightlife areas, public transport and supermarkets. Treasurer David Janetzki will hand down the budget on Tuesday afternoon. Police will be equipped with the latest technology as a state government maintains its crime crackdown in a milestone budget. Queensland's Liberal National government will commit nearly $150 million to police in Tuesday's budget, with new tasers, tyre deflation devices, body-worn cameras and tactical first aid kits to be deployed. "Things that can allow police to do their job and do them well," Premier David Crisafulli said on Monday. The budget will mark the LNP government's first since 2014 after it campaigned hard on crime to claim election success last year. The Queensland government's first eight months in power has introduced controversial "adult crime, adult time" legislation that ensures youth offenders are sentenced as adults on a range of charges. Its upcoming budget will feature $147.9 million to deliver more than 6500 state-of-the-art tasers and upgrade body-worn cameras with radios and livestreaming capabilities. The new tasers are key for the police force as they give officers four times the safe operating distance - around 14 metres - to deploy the device, Acting Police Commissioner Shane Chelepy said. Queensland Police were the first to use the latest Taser model outside the United States when the device was first introduced in 2023 but now thousands more officers will be equipped. Other states and territories are also beginning to provide the latest model to their police force. There have been 2000 situations in Queensland this year where officers considered using force, with 400 cases of tasers being deployed, Mr Chelepy said. Police have used lethal force on five occasions, with one shooting death so far this year. "The reason tasers are so effective is that they actually prevent police from having to use lethal force when we're responding to these critical incidents," Mr Chelepy said. The budget will also feature funding to fulfil the government's election campaign promises, with $50 million over five years for four new or expanded Crime Prevention Schools. Gold Coast-based "Men of Business" is the first school to operate, expanded to grades seven to 12 to help divert kids from a life of crime. The government has committed to other schools in Townsville, Rockhampton and Ipswich. North Queensland, including Townsville and Cairns which are often touted as the state's crime capitals, will also receive a "significant" boost to prevention in the budget, Mr Crisafulli said. "It needs to be," he said. "Those regions have been front row of the youth crime crisis, and those regions will get their fair share and a little bit more to deal with the crime crisis." Other crime prevention initiatives including "Jack's Law", which was recently made permanent, will also receive budget funding to equip more officers with weapon-wanding devices. The legislation, named after teen Jack Beasley who was fatally stabbed on the Gold Coast, allows police to wand for weapons in nightlife areas, public transport and supermarkets. Treasurer David Janetzki will hand down the budget on Tuesday afternoon. Police will be equipped with the latest technology as a state government maintains its crime crackdown in a milestone budget. Queensland's Liberal National government will commit nearly $150 million to police in Tuesday's budget, with new tasers, tyre deflation devices, body-worn cameras and tactical first aid kits to be deployed. "Things that can allow police to do their job and do them well," Premier David Crisafulli said on Monday. The budget will mark the LNP government's first since 2014 after it campaigned hard on crime to claim election success last year. The Queensland government's first eight months in power has introduced controversial "adult crime, adult time" legislation that ensures youth offenders are sentenced as adults on a range of charges. Its upcoming budget will feature $147.9 million to deliver more than 6500 state-of-the-art tasers and upgrade body-worn cameras with radios and livestreaming capabilities. The new tasers are key for the police force as they give officers four times the safe operating distance - around 14 metres - to deploy the device, Acting Police Commissioner Shane Chelepy said. Queensland Police were the first to use the latest Taser model outside the United States when the device was first introduced in 2023 but now thousands more officers will be equipped. Other states and territories are also beginning to provide the latest model to their police force. There have been 2000 situations in Queensland this year where officers considered using force, with 400 cases of tasers being deployed, Mr Chelepy said. Police have used lethal force on five occasions, with one shooting death so far this year. "The reason tasers are so effective is that they actually prevent police from having to use lethal force when we're responding to these critical incidents," Mr Chelepy said. The budget will also feature funding to fulfil the government's election campaign promises, with $50 million over five years for four new or expanded Crime Prevention Schools. Gold Coast-based "Men of Business" is the first school to operate, expanded to grades seven to 12 to help divert kids from a life of crime. The government has committed to other schools in Townsville, Rockhampton and Ipswich. North Queensland, including Townsville and Cairns which are often touted as the state's crime capitals, will also receive a "significant" boost to prevention in the budget, Mr Crisafulli said. "It needs to be," he said. "Those regions have been front row of the youth crime crisis, and those regions will get their fair share and a little bit more to deal with the crime crisis." Other crime prevention initiatives including "Jack's Law", which was recently made permanent, will also receive budget funding to equip more officers with weapon-wanding devices. The legislation, named after teen Jack Beasley who was fatally stabbed on the Gold Coast, allows police to wand for weapons in nightlife areas, public transport and supermarkets. Treasurer David Janetzki will hand down the budget on Tuesday afternoon.
