Kiama MP Gareth Ward has amassed 10,000 signatures for his petition that opposes the NSW Labor Government’s decision to stop issuing new Regional Seniors Travel Cards.

The Regional Seniors Travel Card gave participating seniors $250 per year to be spent on public transport, taxis or petrol. The NSW Government announced in July 2023 it would no longer accept new applications for the scheme, but the existing 320,000 cards in circulation will continue to work until their individual expiry dates.

Ward accused NSW Premier Chris Minns of lying by stating he would keep the Regional Seniors Travel Card, only to abandon it once elected.

“I’m still collecting more signatures; I’ll keep tabling these petitions and I’ll continue  

reminding locals that they were lied to by this government,” Ward said. “The Regional Seniors Travel card was recognition that regional people don’t have  access to all the public transport options enjoyed by people in major cities.”

The Regional Seniors Travel Card was introduced by the then-Coalition Government in 2019 but was only funded up until July 2023.