Budget cash to smooth road crash spots

FORTY-FIVE intersections with an appalling crash history will be upgraded at a cost of $14 million being allocated in tomorrow night's Federal budget.

In the past five years, close to 400 crashes have occurred at the blackspots and 12 people have lost their lives.

Spread throughout the state, the sites to undergo major works include the Warrego Highway at Helidon, three intersections on the Captain Cook Highway near Cairns and two sections of the Gold Coast Highway.

Others will get only cosmetic improvements with new speed signs to be installed on Gladstone-Benaraby Road in Central Queensland and improvements to give way signage on Wrigley St at Maroochydore.

Under the federal blackspot program, road users can nominate areas they believe should be considered for a safety upgrade.

The nominations are then considered by a review panel.

The 2013-14 funding is an increase on last year when 40 sites were upgraded at a cost of $12 million.

Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan said the government had doubled blackspot funding over the past five years to help make the roads safer for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.

"In a state the size of Queensland we know just how important it is to have constant improvements being made to the quality and safety of our roads," said Mr Swan.

"That's why in the budget continued investments in infrastructure are a top priority because we all want the peace of mind that comes with knowing our loved ones will arrive home safely."

Queensland's peak motoring body RACQ has been campaigning for significant funding for roads and external affairs manager Paul Turner said $14 million was "a drop in the ocean".

"We're happy to have it obviously, but it's a very small amount for what is a big problem," Mr Turner said.

"We need up to $100 million for safety upgrades to the Bruce Highway alone, widening the road, removing trees, poles and other obstacles, smoothing out verges and widening median strips."

The Federal Government has previously promised $4.1 billion for Bruce Highway projects over the next five years. The Queensland Government is seeking almost double that.

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Budget safety boost for Ring Road

Geelong businessman Danny Papas at an accident black spot in High St, Belmont. Picture: Cormac Hanrahan Source: Herald Sun

EXCLUSIVE: VICTORIA will receive $525 million in tomorrow's Federal Budget to help finish the vital upgrade of the M80 Ring Road and $14 million will be spent to fix 63 of the state's worst road accident black spots.

There is unlikely to be any new federal money for the East West Link but the Metro rail tunnel project looks set to receive support.

Despite the Budget dishing out pain by dumping a boost in family payments and increasing the Medicare levy, there will be a $300 million increase to income support payments that gives more to people on Newstart who study or work, but no blanket increase in unemployment benefits.

There will also be an $18.5 million boost for prostate cancer research, including $6.2 million for the Epworth Hospital.

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Treasurer Wayne Swan's sixth Budget will provide money for the final stage of the M80 upgrade to widen the remaining 38km to a minimum of three lanes in both directions.

It will also help pay to install technology to manage traffic flows and ease congestion along the entire freeway.

The new money is on top of $900 million already spent by the Federal Government on the M80.

The cash for black spots will target high-accident zones where there have been 317 crashes causing injury and seven deaths over the past five years.

It includes one of the state's worst accident black spots at High St in Belmont, where there have been 30 crashes causing injury and one fatality.

Full list: Black spot upgrades

Belmont's Fish and Chips on High Street manager Danny Papas said there was probably an accident on the thoroughfare twice a month. He welcomed the funding.

"What would be handy, because there are a lot of senior citizens living in this area, would be another pedestrian crossing," he said.

Other deadly intersections include Henty St in Pakenham, Old Melbourne Rd in Lara, Commercial Rd in Morwell, Benetook Ave in Mildura, Three Chain Rd in Newham and Fogartys Gap Rd in Walmer.

High-accident areas receiving cash include Mill Park, Carlton, Canterbury, Elsternwick, Thomastown, Yarraville, Berwick, Camberwell, St Albans, Footscray and the CBD.

Transport Minister Anthony Albanese said the black spot funding would make local roads safer.

While the Government is under pressure for breaking a string of promises including the pledge to have a surplus "come hell or high water", Mr Swan said the Budget would be making the big investments needed for the future.

Mr Swan is set to hand down his sixth consecutive deficit. He said the Budget would explain that an "unprecedented" $17 billion shortfall in predicted tax revenue and the high dollar were to blame, but the Government had chosen not to slash and burn and put jobs and growth at risk.

He said it was "the responsible course", but he expected to suffer political pain.

"I'll take my medicine, I'll accept that the politics of this are very uncomfortable," he told Channel 9's Today on Sunday.

"But getting the big economic decisions right to support Australian jobs is what people expect of me."

He rejected suggestions it will be his last Budget, saying "I believe we will win the election".

Shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey said: "Whatever Wayne Swan says on Tuesday night, do not believe him."

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Tourists on budget opt for caravans

Danish backpackers Emma Brix and Astrid Helmer Moerck, in their camper van in Townsville, are holidaying on a budget. Picture: Zak Simmonds Source: News Limited

INTERNATIONAL tourists are changing the face of Australian holiday parks as they look for alternatives to expensive hotels in the wake of the high Aussie dollar and more authentic experiences.

Travel experts say many overseas visitors still want to come to Australia, but they want to do it more economically.

"They look at Australian prices and say 'oh my God' based on the pound or the euro,'' Caravanning Queensland CEO Ron Chapman said.

"Then they look on the internet and see they can stay in a three-bedroom cabin in a caravan park that might accommodate six or more people for a couple of hundred dollars.''

Mr Chapman said many holiday parks were in great positions by the beach, near national parks and even in cities and had great facilities such as gyms and children's playgrounds.

"Australian holiday parks are world-class,'' he said.

"It gives overseas visitors a whole lot of options - they can stay in basic cabins from $50 a night up to as high as you want.''

Mr Chapman said the tourists who chose to stay in holiday parks were usually from countries where the genre is popular, such as the UK, Europe, New Zealand and North America.

"There are very few caravan parks in Asia but it's a developing market, China especially,'' Mr Chapman said.

Caravan, Camping and Touring Industry NSW CEO Lyndal Gray said there were lots of opportunities in the international market and she was currently developing self-drive motor-home packages with Chinese travel companies.

"We have seen some interest from very innovative wholesalers in the China market,'' she said.

"We also think there's some opportunity in the cabin type accommodation... lying back in your cabin with kangaroos in the park is a really quintessentially Australian experience.''

BIG4 Holiday Parks general manager of marketing Rachel Pugh said the company had noticed an increase in international visitors who wanted to experience a "true-blue outdoor Aussie holiday''.

"The flexibility of our accommodation options means visitors can plan a trip to suit their holiday style and budget,'' she said.

Kate Meldrum, from campervan hire company Britz Maui, said she was pushing the message in the UK with the help of Tourism Australia.

"Australia is still affordable but the caravan option may be a more affordable option than other self-drive holidays by car and hotels,'' she said.

"Demand for hotels in certain parts of Australia is very high because of industry demands such as mining in Western Australia.''

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Stop complaining about budget airlines

Tiger Airways flights were roughly half the cost of other airlines in April. Picture: Tiger Airways. Source: Herald Sun

BUDGET airlines are called budget for a reason. So why do Australians expect so much service? If we don't stop complaining, we're just going to hurt our hip pockets.

The cost of a budget flight is less than that of a taxi to the airport. Less than a bus or a train to the same destination. So why do we expect more from them? Try asking a taxi driver for a free cup of tea. Or getting them to wait for you because you need to finish your coffee in the lounge.

Let's compare some flights on Friday 15 April 2013.

If you want to fly from Melbourne to Adelaide the cheapest flight on Jetstar will cost you $49 ($66 with bags), Tiger will set you back $50 ($65 with bags). On Virgin the cheapest flight costs $112 and on Qantas the cheapest flight is $119.

So budget airlines are roughly half the cost. Half the cost.

Yet we all complain that they don't give us food, they don't allow you to board late and they don't have as nice seats. You get what you pay for.

In fact budget airlines are often cheaper than other forms of travel - forms of travel that we expect much less of.

Let's look at another route - Melbourne to Sydney. A flight on Tiger will cost you $54.95. An interstate train will cost $91.18. A Greyhound bus $101.04. The taxi to Melbourne airport will cost $50.

The cost of a budget flight is close to half that of the bus or the train and almost the same price as the cab to the airport.

If you are late for the train or the bus, it will leave without you. We get that. We don't complain. We don't expect a free meal that is gluten and dairy free vegetarian or someone to carry our bags or even a seat that reclines.

The first report of the Airline Customer Advocate revealed budget airlines are the most complained about by flyers. 

So why do we hate budget airlines so much?

CAPA Centre Aviation chairman Peter Harbison says the figures showed two very different aviation markets. People who fly Qantas and Virgin are familiar with flying and they don't complain as much.

"(Jetstar and Tiger) have a whole lot more restrictions because they offer cheaper fares with add-ons and you tend to get more passengers who aren't experienced flyers but still have high expectations," he says.

In other words people who fly budget airlines expect full-service for half the cost and they complain when they don't get it.

The facts are that budget airlines aren't really as bad as we think they are. They arrive and depart on time almost as much as full-service airlines.

In 2012 Qantas had the best overall on time departures at 86 per cent. Tiger and Virgin near tied for second.

On time arrivals are much the same. Qantas arrived on time 84 per cent of the time, Virgin and Tiger both scored just over 80 per cent and Jetstar came in at 76.6 per cent.

Some budget airlines forgo having backup planes on standby to keep prices low. That means when a flight gets cancelled or delayed on a budget airline you will have to wait longer than on a full-service airline. It's a fact. If you want the extra service of a backup plane in case of emergency pay for full service.

According  to Singapore Airlines budget offshoot Scoot the cost of running a full-service airline is about 40 per cent higher than that of running a low cost airline.

The cost difference comes from having backup planes and assorted costs associated with food and baggage. Yet passengers are not always willing to pay, so full-service airlines only make a small profit.

Complaining about budget airline service is not just whingeing. It's actually causing higher prices. 

Both Scoot and Tiger say if they are forced to include more services the prices will have to go up. The cost difference between full-service airlines and budget carriers will disappear. Anyone else remember when Virgin was considered the budget airline?

Tiger Airways Australia commercial director, Carly Brear says low cost travel enables people to fly when it was never before financially possible for some.

Maybe budget airline travellers need to suck it up and remember they are flying BUDGET. Think of it as the same service level as a train or bus - but cheaper. Turn up on time, don't expect a free feed and if you want more - pay for it.

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Beware of extras in budget fares

Research shows families can pay more than $1000 in ''extras'' for low-cost flights. Source: Herald Sun

A FAMILY of four can pay more than $1000 in "extras" for low-cost flights to popular holiday destinations.

Travellers booking "no-frills" trips online to the Gold Coast, Sydney and Perth risk being slapped with added fees that eclipse the actual airfare, Flight Centre analysis reveals.

Charges for undeclared luggage, credit card fees and snacks can be twice the price of the basic flight.

The research was based on one-way flights for mum, dad and two kids sitting together in an exit row on Tiger Airways during Easter.

Failing to pay for a luggage allowance at the time of booking chalked up a whopping $880 in baggage fees for Sydney, and $1090 for the Gold Coast and Perth. Once booking fees, a surfboard carry charge, exit row seats and coffees and snacks were added, the charges ballooned from $1128 to $1354, depending on location.

Total costs under this scenario were more expensive than flying economy with Qantas, which offers a meal and checked baggage as part of the fare.

Tiger Airways spokeswoman Vanessa Regan said the low-cost model was based on providing the cheapest seat and allowing customers to choose extras.

Extras such as checked baggage were more affordable when booked online with the ticket purchase. "We don't apologise for our approach as it allows us to provide low fares," she said.

"We aim to be efficient and cut complexity in the right areas in order to pass on the most competitive fares. Low-cost travel enables people to fly when it was never before financially possible for some."

Bookings data suggests the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Queensland islands, Tasmania, Great Ocean Rd and the Yarra Valley are the most popular destinations for Victorians this Easter.

Flight Centre managing director Graham Turner said though travellers were becoming more accustomed to budget carriers' "unbundled" charges, it was important to read the fine print.

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