Queensland Transport is attempting to close a loophole that has led to widespread Go Card rorting
April 19, 2013
Queensland’s Transport department is attempting to close a loophole that has led to widespread rorting of the Go Card system.
Queensland Transport Minister Scott Emerson says a refundable deposit on adult Go Cards will be returned to $10 after an investigation showed an increasing number of people were ripping off the system.
“It’s unacceptable this loophole was allowed to occur and I think most people were shocked to read last week about the level of rorting taking place,” Emerson says in a statement.
According to Emerson, government research shows more than 1,000 people a month at Airport stations, and up to 5,000 people a month across the network, have been misusing their Go Card by running their card below the $5 deposit and then disposing of it.
Emerson says the loophole has been growing since changes were made to the Go Card deposit in December 2009, costing more than $220,000 in fare evasion a year.
Emerson says the change will only apply to the purchase of new adult Go Cards with no change to existing adult Go Cards.
Translink will begin distributing adult Go Cards with a $10 deposit from May 6 following the changes to the system’s software.
Some pre-loaded adult Go Cards with the $5 deposit will remain in the market until stocks are depleted at about mid-June.
The deposit on concession Go Cards will remain at $5.