WELFARE organisations are still waiting for day passes for the disadvantaged nearly a month after myki cards became mandatory on Melbourne’s public transport.
Rhonda Collins, manager at Latitude: Directions for Young People — an Altona-based organisation for homeless people in Hobsons Bay and Moonee Valley — said it was unknown how the new ticketing system would affect clients.
It costs $3.50 for more than two hours’ travel and $17.50 for a weekly concession.
Ms Collins said Latitude had been in contact with Victoria’s Transport Ticketing Authority, which had agreed to provide day passes.
“If we have someone who’s in crisis accommodation, for instance, in a caravan park, we would [in the past] give them a weekly ticket so that they’ve got a way of getting out,” Ms Collins said. Myki cards might be given to established clients but not to new clients. “We’ve got to stabilise them first. Issuing a myki for someone who is at that early stage of engagement, the chances of that myki card getting lost are very high.
“I appreciate the fact that myki have tried to come to the table and address the need to buy the day pass. It’s too early to tell whether that is going to work or not.”
Laverton Community Centre CEO Michael Pernar said the criteria for organisations to receive day passes were “quite rigid”. His organisation has been approved but is yet to receive them. He is also waiting for myki cards, which will be distributed after being topped up with money.
“The Metcards were easy. People would come and, basically, it’s ‘Look, I’ve got a doctor’s appointment, I’ve got no money, I need to get there,’ or Centrelink, especially. Now, they’ve got two options: they either don’t go to the appointment or they jump on the train without paying.”
Williamstown Emergency Relief co-ordinator Jenny Peace said her organisation issued public transport tickets to people for job interviews and medical appointments.
“I would like to reserve my comments for a couple of months down the track when we will have been using the new system and will be able to properly evaluate its efficiency and impact on our clients.”
PTV spokesman Adrian Darwent said: “Myki remains the cheapest and best way for most people to access public transport, and PTV is working with the community services sector to make myki the preferred ticket to travel for their clients.
“For some clients or some circumstances, however, the use of a myki may not be appropriate and in these cases the day pass is available.
“The day pass has been available for community service organisations to provide their clients with travel since August 2012.”
