Fraudulent use of public transport concession cards is costing the government millions each year.
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With all paper tickets being scrapped from next Monday, Tony Braxton-Smith, deputy secretary for customer service at Transport for NSW said the move would help cut down on the millions lost
“Concession paper ticket misuse is a major source of fare evasion, costing taxpayers $22 million a year and we cannot let that continue when that money is needed for improving transport services for everyone,” Mr Braxton-Smith said.
He said the Opal card was introduced, in part, as a means to reduce concession misuse as a form of fare evasion.
From next Monday, concession tickets will be cancelled, along with other paper tickets.
After that point the only way to get a concession fare is via the Gold Opal or student concession Opal card.
Both require the applicant to provide evidence they are eligible for the concession.