Claims Queensland's government is "bludging" off Brisbane bus services by failing to properly fund councils have been dismissed as argy bargy by Premier Steven Miles.
Brisbane City Council - Australia's largest local government - says its bus network, which is subsidised by the state government, is under threat after being underfunded for more than a decade.
Transport chair Councillor Ryan Murphy claims commuters will face longer waits and worsening congestion unless the government increases services before a six-month trial of 50c fares begins in August.
The council says 82,000 fewer bus services are operating compared to a decade ago and the marquee Brisbane Metro could face delays into 2025.
"Brisbane is growing quickly and unfortunately the state government's under-investment in Brisbane's bus network is making congestion even worse," Cr Murphy said on Sunday.
"Without additional state funding to boost buses even further, there is a real risk 50c fares will bring the whole house of cards tumbling down."
But Mr Miles said the government was negotiating a funding arrangement and people should not read into the "argy bargy" details playing out in the public domain.
"They want more money. This is a local government that wants more money," he told reporters.
"We are working with them through all of the issues and we'll make sure there is a fair funding arrangement that makes sure we have the bus services we need.
"But I wouldn't go reading too much into the argy bargy of what is a negotiation between the government and them."
The government would continue to work through service allocation and the expansion of Brisbane's bus service, he said.
Part of that includes assessing details of Brisbane Metro, the council's flagship $1.4 billion, 60 mega-bus fleet that is set to hit the road late in 2024.
"The Metro is Brisbane City Council's flagship bus program and if they haven't budgeted sufficiently for it to operate, then we will work with them to make sure it can launch successfully," Mr Miles said.
