Brisbane's exclusive airport rail link, AirTrain, is at the centre of a heated controversy after allegations surfaced that its foreign owners have paid no income tax in Australia for an extended period, despite operating a vital transport service on public infrastructure. A local Member of Parliament has strongly criticised the company's financial practices, labelling the situation a 'rip-off' for Queensland taxpayers and demanding the service be returned to public hands.

According to financial reports, USS Axle, the company that owns and operates the Brisbane AirTrain service, reportedly paid zero income tax in Australia between the 2015 and 2025 financial years. USS Axle's parent company, Universities Superannuation Scheme, is based in the United Kingdom and manages significant international assets. The Greens MP for Maiwar, Michael Berkman, has voiced serious concerns regarding these findings.

Allegations of Complex Financial Arrangements

Mr. Berkman suggests that the AirTrain's owner has established intricate financial arrangements, including obtaining a loan from its own parent company, seemingly designed to minimize its tax obligations in Australia. "It looks like AirTrain's owner has set up complex financial arrangements including taking out a loan from its own parent company to dodge tax," Mr. Berkman stated, adding, "While Queenslanders are working hard, paying their taxes and struggling with fuel and transport costs, the AirTrain's foreign owners are ripping us all off."

The AirTrain operates as a private service utilizing public infrastructure, granting it the autonomy to set its own fares. This arrangement means the standard 50-cent public transport fares applicable across much of Queensland do not extend to the airport link. A single one-way AirTrain ticket currently costs $23.30 per person, with concessions available for children, a price point that has often drawn public criticism.

Exclusive Deal and Limited Alternatives

Adding to the contention, AirTrain holds an exclusive agreement with the state government, which effectively prohibits any other form of direct public transport to Brisbane Airport until 2036. This long-term contract severely restricts competitive public transport options. The only current alternative involves taking a shuttle service to the DFO mall located on the airport's periphery, from where passengers must then connect to other buses and trains to reach the city. This indirect method typically takes two to three times longer than the AirTrain journey.

Plans are reportedly underway to extend a Metro bus line to the DFO mall, with shuttle buses intended to ferry passengers to the airport terminal. However, the existing contractual exclusion zone prevents this new line from extending directly into the airport itself, highlighting the constraints imposed by the AirTrain's agreement. The current contract stipulates that AirTrain will not revert to public ownership until 2036.

Call for Nationalization Ahead of 2032 Olympics

In light of these issues, Mr. Berkman has urged the state government to consider nationalizing the AirTrain service. He proposes offering to buy back the service for $45 million. Should the current owners refuse this offer, Mr. Berkman suggests the state government should legislate to force the acquisition, arguing it constitutes "an unacceptably bad deal for Queensland," especially given the approaching 2032 Brisbane Olympics.

With the current contract, AirTrain is set to remain the sole direct public transport option for international visitors arriving for the 2032 Olympic Games, a situation Mr. Berkman believes is detrimental to the state's image and economy. He asserts that nationalizing AirTrain would enable the state government to drastically reduce ticket prices to 50 cents and extend the Gold Glider bus line directly into the airport. Furthermore, ending the private contract could pave the way for constructing a new station at DFO and increasing train frequency from every 30 minutes to every 15 minutes.

"Ditching the AirTrain contract sends exactly the right message: that we won't let corporations hold Queenslanders to ransom anymore," Mr. Berkman emphasized. Attempts to contact AirTrain and Brisbane Airport for comment on these allegations and proposals were made.