Government Takes Hard Line on Troubled Ticketing System
The ACT government has taken the significant step of withholding payment on the controversial $64 million MyWay+ public transport ticketing project while seeking legal advice regarding contract compliance. This decision comes after a scathing parliamentary report revealed multiple failures in the system's implementation.
The payment being held relates to Milestone 29, which represents the "practical completion" stage where the new ticketing system should function as promised by technology provider NEC Australia. A government spokesperson confirmed that not all components of this milestone had been completed by November 5, 2025.
Damning Report Sparks Government Action
The payment freeze follows a blistering report from an all-party committee of MLAs that condemned the system's launch. The report stated unequivocally that "MyWay+ was clearly not ready for launch on November 27, 2024" and used phrases like "poor decision," "undertaken so poorly," and "questionable choice showing poor judgement" to describe the project's management.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr explained the government's position during an ABC interview, stating the payment block was "around holding a contractor to the terms of their contract." He emphasized that elements of the contract had not been met by the specified timeframe, though they could potentially be completed later.
Contractual Dispute and Ongoing Negotiations
Transport Canberra confirmed it is working with NEC Australia to resolve outstanding tasks associated with practical completion while also seeking independent advice on commercial matters related to the contract. This suggests potential disputes over fees due to unsatisfactory work completed outside agreed timelines.
NEC Australia declined to comment on specific contractual or payment matters, instead stating their focus remains on "supporting Transport Canberra to complete the rollout and ongoing enhancements to the system." The company described the assurance and validation processes as "a normal part of delivery and acceptance for any large and complex digital transformation project."
Both parties maintain they continue to work together in good faith to fulfill contract obligations and deliver a modern ticketing system for Canberra's public transport users. The government confirmed that 438 buses already have MyWay+ hardware installed, with 22 older buses scheduled for retirement missing the equipment.
Following the report's publication, Transport Minister Chris Steel initially took responsibility but declined to apologise before issuing a formal apology five days later, stating he reiterated the Chief Minister's comments that the rollout "could have been smoother" and apologising to anyone impacted by the transition.
