National Transport Concessions for New South Wales Seniors Card holders
New South Wales seniors will be able to access new transport concessions when they travel interstate after 1 January as a new national scheme begins to roll out.
Seniors visiting New South Wales will also be able to get concession fares on NSW public transport providing more incentives for grey nomads to spend their tourist dollars in New South Wales.
The Australian Government has offered more than $22 million over four years to the New South Wales Government so that it can provide concessions to Seniors Card holders who are using public transport services outside their home state.
Until now, New South Wales Seniors Cards have only entitled the holder to public transport concessions in New South Wales.
The new arrangements will mean seniors travelling interstate can now access cheaper fares on local transport in their destination city. For example a New South Wales Seniors Card holder travelling to Melbourne will receive cheaper fares and enjoy the unique experience of seeing the inner city and suburbs on Melbourne trams.
New South Wales seniors will also get concession fares on bus and train travel in other states and territories, through the scheme.
Likewise, seniors visiting NSW will be able to access seniors’ fares on the Sydney Harbour ferry services.
A uniform system across Australia will help seniors travel interstate to see family and friends.
Making it more affordable for seniors to travel within Australia will also help communities and businesses that are dependent on tourism.
These new arrangements will begin to roll out from 1 January 2009. The scheme will commence on 1 January in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory.
Discussions with the Western Australian and Queensland governments are continuing.
In the meantime, from 1 January 2009 Queensland will begin offering concessions on its urban public transport to interstate concession holders.