CHEAPER bus fares have been

secured for students, seniors and

apprentices in Queanbeyan.

The cut-price bus tickets have

been available in Sydney - where

the NSW government owns the

public transport system - for

years, but Country Labor only

recently secured the same deal for

travellers in regional and rural

areas.

Mr Whan said it required

negotiations with the various private

bus operators across the

state.

In Queanbeyan, Deanes will be

subsidised to provide cheaper

fares to full-time tertiary students,

secondary students, trainees and

apprentices.

For pensioners, the extension of

the Pensioner Excursion Ticket

(PET) means concession card

holders will be able to travel for a

flat rate of $2.50.

Where a trip to Canberra would

previously have cost pensioners

$5.90, they will now be able to get

there and back for $2.50.

Mr Whan said the scheme will

give back to the people who will

most benefit from the extra

money in the family budget.

''The reduced fares will certainly

have an impact on the

number of people able to catch

public transport in rural and

regional areas,'' Mr Whan said.

Mr Whan said he expected to

see the cheap fares become available

within a few months.