The ACT government is seeking legal advice after NEC Australia failed to complete a key milestone in the MyWay+ public transport ticketing system upgrade. Milestone 29, the penultimate stage of the project, was due by November 1, but the government confirmed that not all components have been achieved.
The government is assessing NEC's compliance with the contract, which was valued at $64 million when signed in February 2023 and has since been varied twice. Officials will also seek independent assurance over the coming months to better understand the milestone's completion and the platform's usability.
NEC stated it is working closely with the ACT government and will cooperate fully with review processes. The company described the project as progressing through key stages, with ongoing assurance and validation as normal for large digital transformation projects.
The MyWay+ system, launched in November 2024, was intended to provide cashless payments, next-generation ticketing, and real-time passenger information. However, the rollout has been plagued by problems, including broken ticket readers and blank digital displays, leading to lost revenue and a censure of Transport Minister Chris Steel by the Legislative Assembly.
The government also confirmed that four custom buses still lack MyWay+ hardware, with installation expected by end of 2025, and 22 other buses due for retirement remain without the new system. Two senior officials overseeing the rollout have left the ACT public service voluntarily during machinery of government changes.
