All Queensland veterans living with extreme disablement will now be able to travel for free on public transport services across Queensland.
From the 1st January 2013 veterans who hold a Commonwealth Veterans’ Affairs Repatriation Health Card—for All Conditions (Gold) which is embossed EDA (Extreme Disablement Adjustment) will be able to apply for a travel pass.
The current free travel pass is already available to totally and permanently incapacitated veterans and will now be extended to EDA veterans.
This closes a loophole for about 2,300 veterans aged over 65 living in Queensland and will help more diggers get out into the wider community and will relieve cost of living pressures.
Providing them with access to free public transport will also increase their well-being and quality of life.
Eligible veterans will be entitled to travel for free on TransLink bus, rail and ferry services in south-east Queensland (excluding Airtrain) and urban bus and ferry services in regional Queensland.
Free travel for EDA veterans brings Queensland into line with other states.
This is just one of the many ways that the Queensland Government is working to make public transport the choice for all users.
Eligible veterans must apply for a travel pass to access the concessions with information available at www.tmr.qld.gov.au.