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FIGURES show that since the state government’s Fairer Fares initiative began last December, commuters using public transport have saved $48 million through cheaper fares and fewer travel zones.

The Department of Transport and Main Roads annual report 2016/17 shows there were more than 177 million passenger trips in the state’s southeast and of those nearly 112 million were on buses, or almost 63 per cent.

Statewide there were 189 million passenger trips. Buses and coaches comprised 65 per cent of these trips.

Clearly buses are the preferred mode of public transport, but worsening traffic congestion is something that must be addressed so even more people will be persuaded to leave their cars at home. DAVID TAPE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, QUEENSLAND BUS INDUSTRY COUNCIL INC ON BEHALF of Australian banks please pass on our sincere thanks to APRA for capping interest-only mortgage loans at 30 per cent of total loans.

In a classic case of unintended consequences, banks have hiked interest rates for all existing and new interest-only loans.

As Westpac’s CEO commented (GCB, 12/10), half of his bank’s loans are interest-only.

This manipulation by banks will accordingly achieve a colossal improvement in income. STUART SMITH, BROADBEACH UNDERMINING the moral fabric of society with same-sex marriage!

How can two people getting married because they love each other have any effect upon that?

I would think the rate of domestic violence against women by men, the dreadful paedophiles preying upon defenceless children and the draconian mind-set that only one kind of “family” exists.

Equality has everything to do with same-sex marriage. QUEENIE IT IS said that a “new broom sweeps clean and thoroughly’’.

A demonstration of that theory would be appreciated by the public and used on these weak lenient magistrates, who daily grant bail and wholly suspended sentences to criminals who should have been given long prison terms.

Magistrates are put there to protect the public, not the criminals. KEN WADE, TWEED HEADS NOT quite sure when the state election will be but the promises will soon start from all parties.

Most will be broken and a lot will mean nothing even if they did happen.

Why don’t we do it differently this time – tell them what we want and see who will provide it.

I will start the ball rolling … Firstly, build more jails where work is needed.

Secondly, truth in jail sentences, no more slaps on the wrist. If a crime is committed a conviction is recorded.

Finally, if judges and magistrates cannot do their job then replace them.