C27/2006 Bulk Issue of 2007 NSW Transport Concession Card (TC1) and VIC Free Travel Voucher

Purpose

This Departmental Instruction provides information on:

• the bulk issue of the 2007 New South Wales Transport Concession Card (TC1);
• the bulk issue of the Victorian War Widow/Widower Free Travel Voucher; and
• arrangements for daily issues.

Background

The TC1 provides state funded travel concessions and is issued by DVA on behalf of the New South Wales Government.  New South Wales  is now the only state to issue the TC1.

The TC1 is issued to war widow/widowers who are not in receipt of service pension, income support supplement or social security age pension paid by DVA or Centrelink and reside in New South Wales.

War widows/widowers residing in other states may be eligible for state transport concessions through their DVA Gold Card, CSHC or other transport passes.

Changes to VIC TC1

Due to the introduction of increased transport benefits for Victorian Seniors, the Victorian Government has decided to discontinue the TC1 effective 1 January 2007.  DVA will, however, continue to issue the War Widow/Widower Free Travel Voucher on behalf of the Victorian Government.

The Free Travel Voucher will be issued to war widow/widowers who are not in receipt of service pension, income support supplement or social security age pension paid by DVA or Centrelink and reside in Victoria.

A letter from the Victorian Government was sent by DVA to eligible war widow/widowers on 13 November advising of the change to travel concession arrangements.

Changes to VIC Travel Vouchers

This year the Exchange Coupon has been combined with the Free Travel Voucher.  This means that only one voucher will be issued on the carrier rather than two.  The change is administrative only and does not change the free travel entitlement.  War widow/widowers are still entitled to V/Line ticketed Countrylink and Great Southern Railway train services within Victoria.  The text on the front of the carrier will explain the change.

Valid

Both the TC1 and Victorian War Widow/Widower Free Travel Voucher are valid from 1 January 2007 until 31 December 2007.

The current Victorian TC1 will remain valid until 31 December 2006.

Numbers

The approximate numbers to be produced from the bulk issue are:

NSW TC1

9006

VIC Free Travel Voucher

6450

Dates

The following dates apply to the 2007 annual bulk issue:

Task

Date

Production data extract

23 Nov 2006

Produce reports

24 Nov 2006

Mailing house print and mail process

27 Nov -1 Dec 2006

Final lodgement with Australia Post

1 Dec 2006

Reports

Reports will emailed to the contacts on Friday 24 November.  Status reports will also be provided during the print/mail process.

Inserts

A 2007 fridge calendar magnet will be inserted with the bulk issue of the TC1 and the Free Travel Voucher.

An information sheet explaining the changes to Victorian travel concession arrangements will also be inserted with the Free Travel Voucher.

Daily Issues

2007 daily stock supplies have been sent to the contacts.  Arrangements for issuing/replacing cards or vouchers remain unchanged.

Contacts

The contacts for the bulk issue are:

NSW

Sue Cooney

Linda Wallwood

VIC

David Price

Project Coordinator

The project coordinator for the bulk issue is:

Simone Cantrill

Business Operations

Income Support

Phone:  02 62896489

Email:  simone.cantrill@dva.gov.au