Am I going too hard on my seniors Opal card? You bet I am

June 27, 2026 — 3:30am

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As soon as they introduced the Opal card for seniors, officials started to worry. For those eligible, the cost of public transport was to be capped at $2.50 a day. Once a person had made two short trips, any further travel was free. Would this system tempt older citizens to overdo things, leading to serious health impacts?

That’s why the NSW government introduced the Opal Monitoring Bureau (seniors division). Critics say it’s an invasion of privacy, but as someone with a seniors Opal card, I appreciate their kindly care.

I imagine a busy office, with a diligent public servant monitoring my activity. “What’s he up to now?” she might say as her computer pings with the news that I’ve boarded a bus at 7.30am. “That’s a bit early for Richard. I hope he’s not overdoing things.”

During the next few hours, her screen would keep flashing. “He’s caught the Metro!” Next: “He’s tapped off at North Sydney.” An hour later: “Now he’s tapped off at Barangaroo.” Forty minutes on: “He’s tapped onto a bus at QVB, heading for the art gallery! He must have walked all the way from Barangaroo. And with his knees!”

It’s at this point, questions would arise. At which point should she ring my........

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