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The Gong Shuttle will remain free.
That’s the pledge from the NSW Labor Party, should it win government at the 2019 election.
Opposition Leader Luke Foley will make his free bus commitment known during a visit to Wollongong on Saturday – just over two weeks after the state government revealed Opal fares would apply on the city-loop service from January next year.
The bus bombshell, delivered via a Transport for NSW media release on the afternoon of November 1, has sparked an outpouring of community anger across the Illawarra – and beyond.
Thousands of free bus supporters have already signed a hard-copy petition fighting the changes, while hundreds of people sent a “Save Our Free Bus” chant echoing through Wollongong’s Crown Street Mall during a public rally last Saturday.
The city’s business and community leaders have also publicly expressed concern over the decision – made to “spread the load” across the city’s bus network and stop commuters choosing the free Gong Shuttle over a closer paid route, Transport for NSW said.
The Berejiklian government has also come under fire for a lack of consultation prior to the shuttle announcement and this week faced a barrage of questions on the issue in Parliament.
“This was a free service set up by Labor and we commit to keeping it free for the 3.3 million passengers who use it every year,” Mr Foley said.
“Charging passengers for a free service reveals just how greedy the Berejiklian government is. They’re trying to capitalise on a popular service and make you pay for the privilege.”
The shuttle bus has maintained good patronage since it was introduced by the then Labor government, led by Nathan Rees, in 2009.
Its immense popularity was cited by transport bureaucrats as the reason why users would have to pay.
Transport for NSW said the number of commuters using the free shuttle, which costs about $3 million a year to operate, had “resulted in complaints of overcrowding while its cost to the taxpayers has continued to grow”.
The Labor pledge comes after the party’s Illawarra spokesman, and Keira MP, Ryan Park vowed to take the issue to Mr Foley and the shadow cabinet this week.
“There is now a very clear point of difference between the Liberals and Labor – Gladys [Berejiklian] will charge an Opal fare for you to use the Gong Shuttle from January 29, and Labor will keep the service, as it has been, free of charge,” Mr Park said.
“This out-of-touch government must reverse the decision to impose Opal charges.” Mr Park, who is also the shadow treasurer, said his party’s commitment showed why a Minister for the Illawarra was needed at the cabinet table.
The government axed the position, in favour of a parliamentary secretary role, in 2015.
The Illawarra’s parliamentary secretary, Gareth Ward, told the Mercury this week that he was not involved in making the Gong Shuttle decision, but said he was “more than happy” to take individual messages to Transport Minister Andrew Constance.
Meanwhile, Mr Foley praised the Mercury for “fighting so strongly on behalf of the community”.
This newspaper has jumped on board the bus campaign by supporting the “Save Our Free Shuttle” petition led by Mr Park and Wollongong MP Paul Scully.
As of Friday, the petition had about 6000 signatures.