Brisbane City Council's finance boss has declared the current administration is the "best friend public transport users have ever had" while defending a drop in bus passengers last financial year.

Councillor Julian Simmonds said the blame for passenger numbers declining by one million on the city's bus fleet in 2013-14 lay with the previous State Labor government and fare increases of 15 per cent for three consecutive years.

Are bus patronage figures down due to cost or number of services? Credit:Michelle Smith

"The previous Labor government introduced year-on-year, three years running 15 per cent increases and we did not want ongoing 15 per cent fare increases," he said.

"The policy they have laid down is one way to drive people off public transport."