Return on investment a touch doubtful
I WONDER if the cost of employing security and contracting police to do checks on 50 cent fare evaders is really worth it.
I see it regularly enough and observe that, firstly, the exercise inevitably catches those that can least afford the $322 on-the-spot fine and either can’t or won’t pay up.
Those fines just add to the spiralling debt and the hundreds of millions owed to the state government via SPER.
Secondly, these officers handing out said fines all dress like SWAT officers. Why?
Dial down the aggressive look.
Do you remember when police on the beat didn’t look like they were on their way to raid the Branch Davidians?
Compliance might need addressing, but a fare evasion should be addressed in the context of a 50 cent misdemeanour.
Dog day afternoons
Speaking of ‘fair go’ evasions, I was stuck at a station the other day while QR staff had a barney with a guy who had brought his dog on board. It dragged on while the guy insisted his pet was a ‘care’ dog.
The lacklustre staff eventually lost interest and dispersed. As the train pulled away the guy pulled out a bottle of wine from his bag, took a drink and proclaimed to the carriage:
‘This is what they should have got me for!’
They didn’t check his ticket either. You can’t accuse the Caboolture line of not being colourful.
Who’s who
Interesting state budget in the sense that I’m not sure what the difference is between the two major state parties.
They all sing from the same or similar hymn book when it comes to the key portfolios. And their debt strategy seems similar as well…
Not sure where the bold vision is from either to be honest.