The owner of the Red Explorer Bus tourist company is distraught over the Canberra Liberals proposed city loop bus service and convinced it would drive him out of business.
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John Williams was "absolutely shattered" when he learned of the Liberal's proposed "city hopper", which covers the city centre and extends to the National Museum and Parliamentary Triangle.
The proposed loop essentially combines the ACT government's new city loop and Mr William's Red Explorer route, which stops at all of Canberra's tourist attractions.
Liberals transport spokesman Alistair Coe insisted his service accommodated tourists heading to the parliamentary triangle, as well as students and commuters.
When asked about Mr William's concerns, Mr Coe said he would consult with the Red Explorer and discuss their role regarding the opportunity.
"Unlike the government, we're open to consultation on our policies and initiatives," Mr Coe said.
But Mr Williams said the planned copy-cat route left him shell-shocked and his business extremely vulnerable.
"There is no doubt that my business will have no future if this service goes ahead," he said.
"How can we compete with such a cheap fair?"
Over the past 15 years, Mr Williams has educated countless tourists about Canberra's history while driving the hop-on, hop-off bus, which charges $30 for an adult and $25 for a senior.
The Liberals' proposed city service would cost a standard bus fare with a single fare lasting all day on the route.
Mr Coe estimated his route would cost taxpayers $900,000, taking into account fare income from 100,000 passengers a year, or roughly 300 people a day.
The route would be the first permanent competition threatening Mr William's business.
Mr Williams said he and his two drivers were the only tourist guides in Canberra offering a service that runs all week and year, with an estimated 50-60 customers a day during busy periods.
He recently invested in a new air-conditioned, wheelchair accessible bus that would be ready to run later this year.
"Our service provides income for three families, and like anyone with an investment in private enterprise, if it was a level playing field it would be fair competition, but to replicate something that is already there is appalling," he said.
"None of us will have a job if this goes ahead."
Damian Haas, chairman of public transport lobby group ACT Light Rail, also slammed the Liberals' proposal.
"Most disturbing is the awful arrogance of destroying a private bus operators business without any discussion of compensation, or even mentioning that it exists at all," Mr Damien Haas said.
"ACT Light Rail can only assume the Canberra Liberals genuinely had no clue that a private operator already offered a service they claim doesn't exist."
Mr Haas said the proposal was a confusing mix of two routes that would not meet any one customer's needs.
The Liberals have also announced a major reorganisation of the city's wider bus network, introducing six new direct rapid services along major routes, on top of the current two rapid routes. Labor has announced extra services to Molonglo, including a trial of a new "Weston Line"
Labor's big spend on transport is the Gungahlin to city tram, with an announcement expected before the election on the second stage of the tram into the Russell or Parliamentary Triangle area.
