STUDENTS from the University of Queensland continue in their efforts to have the Tertiary Transport Concession Card scheme abolished.
Members of the University of Queensland Union are encouraging students to get involved with their protest against the TTCC scheme, which is set to take effect July 1.
University of Queensland Union Council member and President of the Queensland branch for the National Union of Students Laurence McLean said the introduction of the TTCC is an unnecessary burden for students and administrators alike.
“The process for getting the card is ridiculously bureaucratic, putting a burden on students to ensure extra paperwork is filled out,” Mr McLean said.
“The card itself serves little to no purpose in stopping so-called rorting of the system, which is still possible with the TTCC,”
A TransLink spokesperson said that under the new scheme a student’s eligibility for the TTCC won’t change from current laws.
“If a university institution deems a student to be enrolled in a course on a full time internal basis they are eligible for a TTCC,” the spokesperson said.
“Whilst we recognise that some students are required to carry an additional card, we believe it is important that only legitimate concession holders claim for concession travel,”
University of Queensland student Jocelyn Gibson said the new TTCC scheme won’t stop the fraud that already takes place on public transport.
“I can understand to a certain degree the point of this card, but when it’s actually put in to practice I don’t think anything will change,” Miss Gibson said.
“As it is now I don’t get checked for student ID when I use public transport, and based on that alone I highly doubt that every bus, train and ferry operator is going to check me when this law is finally introduced,”
To learn more about the TTCC visit http://translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/concessions/tertiary-transport-concession-card
