The Hon. AILEEN MacDONALD (21:22): I move:

(1)That this House notes with concern that the Government has recently altered the NSW TrainLink Discovery Pass, removing longer term travel options such as the six-month pass and replacing them with only 14-day and 30-day passes.

(2)That this House further notes:

(a)these changes have significantly increased the cost of regional rail travel over time, disproportionately affecting:

(i)students travelling between the city and country to visit family;

(ii)regional seniors and families accessing specialist health care in metropolitan areas; and

(iii)regular users of the NSW TrainLink network across rural and regional New South Wales.

(b)the lack of public communication or consultation surrounding these changes.

(3)That this House acknowledges that the NSW TrainLink network is vital for regional connectivity, social inclusion and economic participation, especially on routes such as Sydney to Armidale and services to Wagga Wagga.

(4)That this House calls on the Government to:

(a)provide a full explanation for the changes;

(b)release any analysis or modelling on the impacts of the changes; and

(c)guarantee that no services will be reduced or cut as a result of decreased passenger demand stemming from the changes.

The Government has made a quiet and deeply concerning decision to remove the three-month NSW TrainLink Discovery Pass and the six-month NSW TrainLink Discovery Pass—affordable and vital travel options that many in regional New South Wales rely upon. Those passes were not just a convenience; they were essential. They allowed regional students to study in the city while maintaining close connections with family. They allowed older residents to stay socially connected. And they gave working people access to appointments, events and services that might otherwise be out of reach.

The six‑month discovery pass, priced at around $420, offered unlimited economy travel across the NSW TrainLink regional network. Now, the longest pass available is just for 30 days, costing approximately $275—a nearly 100 per cent increase in monthly cost for regular travellers. The change was not announced. It was not consulted on or explained. It just happened quietly and discreetly. It is only thanks to vigilant regional travellers that we even know it has taken place. Michael from Armidale recently contacted my office. His son studies in Sydney and uses the six‑month pass to come home regularly. It was affordable, simple and made all the difference in maintaining family connection during his studies.

With the pass now gone and no equivalent option available, those trips home are no longer viable—another financial and emotional cost borne by a regional family. Steve from Griffith described his experience of discovering the change by accident. He tried to book travel by using his pass and was told that online bookings were temporarily unavailable due to a system upgrade, but when he called to book, he was told the longer passes were no longer being sold—no explanation, no warning. He also raised a valuable point. Many regional people who do not qualify for pensioner entitlements use these passes to visit family, attend events or simply maintain the social connections that are so important for mental health and wellbeing. Without this pass, that affordability and that independence is gone.

In response to my questions on notice, the Government described this change as "a pause" while it reviews the new booking system and the Discovery Pass product. But that answer raised more concerns than it resolves. There is no timeline for reinstating the longer passes; no commitment that they will return at all; no record of consultation with regional users; no impact assessment on students, families or older residents; and no guarantee that route frequency or availability will not be reduced, if passenger numbers fall. Let's call this what it is: a cost‑of‑living increase disguised as a pause. The monthly pass is nearly double the price per month compared with the six‑month option. For regular users, that is not sustainable. If they stop using the service as a result, patronage will drop—and we all know what follows.

Once patronage falls, the argument becomes that routes are no longer viable, and services get cut. We have seen it before in regional New South Wales. It starts with a change in conditions, then we hear that the numbers do not justify the frequency, and soon after a vital connection disappears altogether. This is why it matters that we get it right now. These changes affect people who already have fewer transport options. Regional travel is not like metro travel. There is no next train in five minutes. If a service disappears or becomes unaffordable, the impact is immediate and isolating. Let's talk about the system itself. Not only are the longer passes gone, but the current booking system is also failing existing pass holders. They cannot book online and must spend time on the phone to secure travel they have already paid for. That is not modernisation; it is dysfunction, and it is creating confusion, inconvenience and more barriers for people who just want to get where they need to go.

I moved this motion to call on the Government to reinstate the three‑ and six‑month Discovery Passes without delay; fix the booking system for current pass holders; commit to genuine consultation before making further changes; and guarantee that no regional routes will be cut or downgraded because of reduced usage resulting from this decision. Let's get it right. Let's put regional travellers back at the centre of the regional transport plan. [Time expired.]

The Hon. EMILY SUVAAL (21:27): I lead for the Government and indicate at the outset that the Government is not opposing the motion, but wishes to put a few things on record. I note the concerns of the member regarding the Discovery Pass product. This has been canvassed, in particular, in questions and answers received. I am advised that the NSW TrainLink Discovery Pass is offered to tourist travellers with the opportunity to book unlimited travel to more than 365 destinations on the NSW TrainLink regional train and coach network. The Discovery Pass is a discount product promoted for tourism travellers and intended for their use only. It has never intended as a discounted product for commuters or as a concessional entitlement.

NSW TrainLink continues to offer to eligible passengers a range of concession fares for travel on its network. As they are, the terms of the Discovery Pass are not considered fit for purpose by Transport for NSW. Transport for NSW has put a hold on some of the pass options while the current terms are assessed and amendments are considered. Existing passes that have been purchased are not impacted and will continue to be eligible for use until they expire. Fourteen-day and one-month passes are still available for purchase, and their pricing has not changed. However, with the introduction of NSW TrainLink's new booking system in April 2025, the sale of the three-month and six-month Discovery passes was paused.

Pricing for Discovery passes has not changed since June 2014 for economy and premium, and there are no intentions to change the services on the NSW TrainLink network. The pause has been put in place so that Transport for NSW and NSW TrainLink can review the Discovery Pass product. NSW TrainLink has made passengers aware of the pause via its website under the banner "Regional Offers", which is used to promote various tourism‑related offers. A decision on the longer-term Discovery passes will be made following this review. Any impact on travellers will depend on their travel behaviour.

I note that very few Discovery passes are sold, making up just 4 per cent of total annual patronage. The pause has no impact on concession entitlements, with a range of options available for eligible passengers. A range of concession fares are available to pensioners and seniors, including paying half the peak adult fare. Then there is also the popular Country Pensioner Excursion ticket, which offers eligible pensioners and seniors travel across regional New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory for an affordable price of $2.50.

Ms CATE FAEHRMANN (21:31): I support the motion put forward by the Hon. Aileen MacDonald and thank her for bringing it to the Chamber tonight. It is important that we continue to debate and discuss the situation with regional rail in New South Wales, which is not good enough. The frequency of services in many areas is particularly poor. I asked questions of the Minister for Regional Transport about this in budget estimates. I spoke with her about the fact that if there are not many trains to catch, then it becomes a vicious cycle. People do not want to catch the train and move away from it as a reliable transport service, and the services therefore begin to be cut because nobody is using them. So many people in regional New South Wales just want regular train services.

I note the contribution stating that just 4 per cent of all regional passes for TrainLink are Discovery passes. That is not surprising. If a traveller came to New South Wales and looked at how to get around New South Wales, the last thing they would do is use the trains. If you had the money and a licence, you would hire a car, unlike in many other parts of the world where catching the train is a joy and a pleasure and there are many trains to catch. I know that regional New South Wales does not have the population of Europe, but we have had much more reliable trains in the past. It is a big project, one that this Government and all governments must prioritise more because right now it is just in this decline. Regional communities fear that their transport and train services are deliberately being run down so that those services will close. Again I thank the member for bringing this motion. I always welcome working across party lines on this issue for regional New South Wales.

The Hon. CAMERON MURPHY (21:33): I also contribute to debate on this motion. It is an interesting and curious motion advocating for the Europass of New South Wales. It is not a scheme designed for residents to travel around the State; it is an option for tourists. Despite what the motion is about—condemning some changes to it—it is still available.

Ms Cate Faehrmann: What have you got against tourists?

The Hon. CAMERON MURPHY: What tourist needs a six‑month pass? The 14‑day and 30‑day options are still available. I am advised that, as the Hon. Emily Suvaal said, the prices have stayed the same since June 2014. People can still take the train. They can get a 30‑day pass. If they need it for six months, they can get a 30‑day pass every month for six months. I do not understand the issue that the Opposition is trying debate. We really are at the dregs of Wednesday if we are talking about an issue that is a non-issue.

The Hon. Sarah Mitchell: Point of order—

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT (The Hon. Dr Sarah Kaine): A point of order has been taken. The Hon. Cameron Murphy will resume his seat.

The Hon. Sarah Mitchell: The member is reflecting on the motion and the member who moved it when he said "we are at the dregs of Wednesday". He should be better than that. Members are allowed to move motions to be debated, and they should not be spoken about in such a derogatory way. The comment is offensive.

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT (The Hon. Dr Sarah Kaine): Order! I remind all members to be mindful of the language they use in their contributions to debate. The Hon. Cameron Murphy has the call.

The Hon. CAMERON MURPHY: Pensioners are still eligible for pensioner travel passes, which provide free and discounted travel. Other discounts are available for non-pensioners. The Government has made changes to the tourist rail travel scheme and the types of passes available. Prices have not changed. All that has changed is that the six‑month passes have been discontinued; the 30‑day passes are still available. It is an important issue.

The Hon. Sarah Mitchell: It has gone from being the dregs to important.

The Hon. CAMERON MURPHY: I give the Leader of the National Party credit and say that I accept that it is an important issue for tourists who might want a pass for six months. Maybe they will be inconvenienced because they will have to get another 30‑day pass each month. It is an important issue, but I think other more important issues could be debated.

The Hon. STEPHEN LAWRENCE (21:37): I speak on this motion about an important issue. Firstly, I wish to clarify that I do not think the motion is completely correct in stating that the pass has been altered. My understanding is that it has been put on pause and that no substantive decision has been made as yet. That has been done so that Transport for NSW and NSW TrainLink can review the Discovery Pass product offering.

The Hon. Wes Fang: Would you stop "barristersplaining" to us?

The Hon. STEPHEN LAWRENCE: I can't help it. NSW TrainLink has made passengers aware of the pause via their website under "Regional offers", which promotes various tourism‑related offers. I am advised that a longer term decision on the pass will be made after that review has taken place. Any impact on travellers will depend on their travel behaviour, noting that very few discovery passes are sold. In fact, they only make up 4 per cent of annual patronage. It should also be said that the pause has no impact on concession entitlements, with a range of options still available for eligible passengers such as pensioners and seniors, including paying half the peak adult fare.

There is also the popular Country Pensioner Excursion, known as the CPE ticket, which offers eligible pensioners and seniors travel across regional New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory for an affordable $2.50 for an economy seat on a TrainLink service. There is indeed a broad range of options still available. As the Hon. Cameron Murphy said, the Discovery Pass is a tourism offering, so it should not be put out there that this will impact concessions and subsidised travel, because that is certainly not the intent, and only 4 per cent of patronage is through that particular scheme.

I note the concerns of members of the House regarding the Discovery Pass product, because it is an important issue for the 4 per cent of patrons who use it. Government members do not oppose the motion but do wish to put on record a couple of matters. The Discovery Pass offered tourist travellers the opportunity to book unlimited travel to more than 365 destinations on the train and coach network. The discounted product was promoted and intended for tourist travellers only. [Time expired.]

The Hon. PENNY SHARPE (Minister for Climate Change, Minister for Energy, Minister for the Environment, and Minister for Heritage) (21:40): Deputy President—

The Hon. Wes Fang: Ms Regional Train Traveller herself.

The Hon. PENNY SHARPE: As usual, members opposite know very little about me. In fact, I enjoy train travel and I have used regional trains a lot. I genuinely have. I spend a lot of time on the train when I am a good daughter and I visit my mother in Canberra. Quite often I catch the train, because it is a very nice way to travel. The last time Labor was in government, in a previous life, I was Parliamentary Secretary for Transport and I conducted a review of CountryLink. I caught every single route in New South Wales by train. I have literally caught every CountryLink train that existed, and that continues to exist, so I was very glad to be explained to by The Nationals about the CountryLink system. I suspect I have spent more kilometres on those trains than the Opposition Whip, who, as usual, has leapt to a conclusion without knowing very much about what is going on.

This is an important motion and, to be clear, the Government does not oppose it. I acknowledge the work of the Hon. Aileen MacDonald. She is raising issues in the Chamber that matter to people, including regional people, across the State. I note the honourable member is a regional Liberal and I welcome the fact that she is raising these matters. It is really important. But members need to have perspective. This is a Discovery Pass. It does not affect pensioners. My grandmother used to catch the train on the old pensioner system, when she used to get a free trip everywhere. She used to go and visit her family.

The Hon. Wes Fang: The regional seniors travel card. You guys cut it. Do you remember that?

The Hon. PENNY SHARPE: No, it was on CountryLink. Just to be clear, I do know what I am talking about in relation to this. The point is that the Government does not oppose the motion. Yes, the Government should explain what it is doing, but it has been very clear about what it is doing. Changes have been made to tourist passes. Members may have a view about that, but passes are still available. If members are serious, the more important matter is what is happening for concessions, pensioners and people who use the train on a regular basis. I know pensioners who plan their travel over the course of a year based on the free trips and concessions they receive, not on the tourist ticket. That is a very important point. Regional travel is incredibly important, as is access to all of the different routes around the State. It is important to so many people in so many different ways. Regional trains are not just for old people visiting their families. They assist families visiting loved ones who are in jail. The TrainLink system is extremely important. We think the motion is pretty good. [Time expired.]

The Hon. ANTHONY D'ADAM (21:43): I contribute to debate on the motion. I used to travel quite a bit on trains in the past. It is not something that I do regularly now. Recently, when I was in Europe, I was surprised to see that an extensive pass system that used to be place in on European trains had been abandoned.

The Hon. Stephen Lawrence: Point of order: The member is making a contribution to debate on an important motion. He should be heard in silence.

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT (The Hon. Dr Sarah Kaine): Members will listen respectfully to each other during the debate.

The Hon. ANTHONY D'ADAM: It is indicative of good train systems that they review the ticketing systems that are in place to make sure they are appropriate and fit for purpose. I think that is clearly what is happening here. In terms of the equity issues that previous speakers have raised, there are obviously—

The Hon. Wes Fang: Tell us about your trip to Europe.

The Hon. ANTHONY D'ADAM: Actually, it was the first trip that I have made out of the country in 20 years, so it is not something that I do regularly. I do not travel a lot. Anyway, I digress. As I was saying, it is appropriate that train systems make sure that their pricing and ticketing arrangements are fit for purpose. A number of equity issues have been raised. It is clear that there are still a range of concessional arrangements, particularly for pensioners and seniors, and that the changes proposed for the Discovery Pass will not affect them. The 14-day and the one-month passes are still in place. They are appropriate alternatives available to those who want to access our TrainLink services, so the changes being put forward are appropriate. I think the motion is perhaps a bit misdirected, but I leave my comments there.

The Hon. AILEEN MacDONALD (21:46): In reply: I thank members who contributed to the debate—namely, the Hon. Emily Suvaal, Ms Cate Faehrmann, the Hon. Cameron Murphy, the Hon. Stephen Lawrence, the Hon. Penny Sharpe and the Hon. Anthony D'Adam. I particularly liked the contribution by Ms Cate Faehrmann. Whether or not members support the motion, I make clear that the removal of the passes was not a minor adjustment; it was a significant change that occurred without notice. Members can say that the change was on the website, but people discovered it by accident. Cuts that start here will lead to cuts to regional seniors travel cards and beyond. I thank members for running the clock down. I say fix the booking system and really listen.

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT (The Hon. Dr Sarah Kaine): The question is that the motion be agreed to.

Motion agreed to.