NEWS RELEASE: Concerns on Bus Fares Supported
<center><h3>CONCERNS ON BUS FARE DISCOUNTS SUPPORTED</h3></center>

Bus users' concerns about proposals to slash discounts on TravelTen tickets
have been supported by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal
(IPART), according to the consumer group, Action for Public Transport.

A spokesman for APT, Allan Miles, said that in submissions to the recent
IPART hearings, the Ministry of Transport wanted to reduce discounts on
TravelTens to a standard 15% over two years. Current discounts range from
13% to 30%, Mr Miles said.

"APT and other groups argued that a 15% discount was far too low," Mr Miles
said. "There is no evidence to say it is reasonable, as claimed by the
Ministry, or in line with other cities."

The official report released today says that IPART "has not been persuaded
by the Ministry's argument that the discount on all TravelTen tickets should
be standardised at 15 percent within two years. The Tribunal requests the
Ministry to consider this issue further before next year's fare
determination."

The report says, "Taking all this information into account, the Tribunal
considers that a 15 per cent discount is neither representative of
interstate practice nor consistent with public perceptions."

In fact, Mr Miles said, the figures quoted by the Ministry from other cities
to support its case were very selective.

Regarding interstate fares, the IPART report says, "The four capital cities
not mentioned in the Unsworth Report have discounts of 20 per cent or more
on their 10-trip tickets."

The TravelTen increases from 4th January 2005 will reduce discounts to
around 20%, the minimum acceptable level, according to Mr Miles. "The
Ministry wants to further cut discounts to 15% in 2006," Mr Miles said, "But
that will be vigorously opposed."

There will be no increases in TravelPasses in 2005. DayTripper remains at
$15, and BusTripper, if you can find one, remains at $10.90.

Mr Miles urged regular bus users to stock up on TravelTens at the current
price. "Tickets can be used at any time in the future," he said, "so stock
up now and get the current higher discounts."

<b>Contact</b>: Allan Miles 9516-1906