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Brisbane City Council has launched a blistering attack on the Queensland government, accusing it of presiding over what could be the biggest public policy failure in the state's history when a 50 cent public transport trial begins in August.
Brisbane Transport Chair Ryan Murphy said the council had been negotiating with state counterparts for six weeks over a proposed funding deal for Brisbane's bus network worth almost $100 million each year for five years.
But Mr Murphy said the proposal was rejected on Friday, setting the government up for "disaster" when its six-month fare trial begins on August 5.
"If we don’t get this deal, August will be a disaster for the state government," Mr Murphy said. "In August, 50 cent fares will be a 50-cent fail.
"People will want to get on public transport … they'll rock up to busway stations all around our city and they'll find buses crowded with passengers.
"They'll have full buses leave them behind at busway stations and platforms, and they'll go, 'you know what, it's not any better than it was 10 years ago."
Queensland Premier Steven Miles dismissed the council's complaints as "argy bargy" between the state and local government during funding negotiations.
"They want more money. This is a local government that wants more money," Mr Miles said.
He didn't put a figure on how much the council was seeking but said it was "much more" than the $25 million in revenue the state government earned each year from fares.
Mr Murphy said the council was offered $50 million in a one-off payment as "hush money" to "go away" until after the election
"We're not seeking a one-off payment, we're seeking a transformative investment in Brisbane's bus services," he said.
The political stoush comes just weeks before the Queensland government enters caretaker mode ahead of the state election in October.
Mr Murphy said if the funding wasn't approved before the government pause, the long-awaited Brisbane Metro service wouldn't launch until mid-2025.
The Metro service will connect 18 stations along busways from Eight Mile Plains to Roma Street, and the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital and University of Queensland. Orders have already been placed for 59 new metro buses.
Mr Miles said the state government wanted to see the successful launch of Brisbane Metro and suggested the council had potentially miscalculated its budget.
"The Metro is Brisbane City Council's flagship bus program and if they haven't budgeted sufficiently for it to operate, then we will work with them to make sure it can launch successfully," he said.
The government's 50 cent scheme starts on August 5, and applies to buses, trains, ferries, trams and all regional buses in Queensland that are operated by Translink. It will not include Airtrain services that run to and from Brisbane's international and domestic airport terminals.
The hefty discount has been dismissed by some as an election sweetener, but the state government said it's an important measure to address the cost-of-living crisis and reduce car congestion.
Mr Murphy predicted that demand for 50 cent fares would be "off the Richter" scale, and he said now was the time for the state government to boost investment or risk "disaster".
"What they're hoping to do is spend $150 million on 50 cent fares and pump up the numbers in the public transport network in the lead up to their election in October," he said.
"But what will actually happen is that lots of people will try to get on public transport and it will fail dismally because they haven't invested anything in our bus network for over a decade."
The council claimed the network offered 82,000 fewer services than it did a decade ago, and the extra investment would be used to buy more buses and add services.
"We're pleading with the state government. Don't let 50 cent fares become a 50-cent fail. Invest in our bus network to grow the capacity, add new services and make sure that we're ready for the people who'll want to get on public transport in August," Mr Murphy said.
"Otherwise, this will be one of the greatest public policy failings in Queensland's history."
Premier Miles suggested that negotiations weren't over and the government was working towards a compromise.
"I don't think you'll find a bigger supporter of public transport than me. I want to see our public transport continue to be well-used, continue to be affordable, continue to be a key measure for fighting congestion, but we can't just write a blank cheque to Brisbane City Council," Mr Miles said.
"We need to work with them through the details and I'm sure we'll land on a fair deal."