Queensland’s set to get flat rate public transport fares of just 50 cents from 5 August as part of a 6-month trial. Premier Stephen Miles says it will help ease cost of living pressures, saving commuters “thousands of dollars” while helping to “bust congestion”. But he’s warned people to “use it or lose it”, saying the scheme could become permanent, but only if it gets people back onto public transport. The cheap fares will be applied on trains, buses, CityCat ferries and the Gold Coast light rail – regardless of the distance travelled. It comes on the back of a $1,000 power bill rebate for every household announced earlier this month, and that’s led to warnings the measures could undermine the Reserve Bank’s inflation-fighting efforts. State Deputy Coalition Leader Jarrod Bleijie says Queenslanders are “cynical” that the trial will end shortly after the state election on 26 October.