An inadequate and inefficient public transport system is impacting employment rates in Tasmania, according to the Tasmanian Council of Social Service.
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Compared to the rest of Australia, the state government spent the least on public transport per capita at $209.86 annually, the TasCOSS transport budget analysis revealed.
The next lowest per capita spend was the Northern Territory’s at $231.75.
TasCOSS acting chief executive Jo Flanagan said funding was "demonstrably inadequate for meeting the transport needs of Tasmania's dispersed transport-disadvantaged population".
TasCOSS urged the government to raise spending to $300 per capita to fulfil future improvements under the Draft Transport Access Strategy.
Infrastructure Minister Rene Hidding said lower per capita spending was due to decentralised population distribution.
The Draft Transport Access Strategy is open for consultation until September, and was not specifically allocated funding in the state budget.
Mr Hidding said the strategy is “a framework under which future opportunities are identified to address transport challenges”.
“Better co-ordinated transport services will particularly benefit Tasmanians who are disadvantaged through financial circumstances, disability, frailty and age,” Mr Hidding said.
He said the government was developing the Greater Launceston Metropolitan Passenger Transport Plan, a 10-year strategic document to guide passenger transport investment in Greater Launceston.
Ms Flanagan said Tasmania's poor public transport most adversely affected young people without licences, people who couldn't afford cars and people who lost their license.
The 2016-17 state budget included $31 million over four years towards 100 new buses, which Mr Hidding said would replace existing buses in the Metro fleet.
Ms Flanagan said the funds appeared required “rather than an injection of fresh funds”.
Mr Hidding said it was the “largest single public transport investment in Tasmanian history”.
Ms Flanagan said insufficient public transport was particularly impacting shift workers and agricultural employees.
“Metro and other providers cannot provide adequate access to public transport without adequate funding,” she said.