18 July 2003 12:00am

Advocates of smart card technology may take heart from evidence of the competitiveness of the sector in Australia, as shown by the decision of the Western Australian government to overlook its home town favourite, ERG Group, and award the tender for the planned smart card ticketing system in Perth to Delairco Bartrol.

The government selected Delairco Bartrol and Wayfarer Transit Systems as preferred tenderer for the ticketing contract, worth more than $30 million. The contract is to provide an integrated smart card ticketing system for the city's bus, train and ferry services.