The Baird government faces a political backlash against any move to strip self-funded retirees of Gold Opal cards and increase the daily cap on the cost of public transport for pensioners.

The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal has proposed tightening the eligibility for the Gold Opal smartcard to "achieve fairer fares" by means-testing access. Under the proposal, a daily cap on fares for self-funded retirees would more than triple.

The tribunal has also recommended an increase in the daily cap for the Gold Opal from $2.50 to $3.60, and linking it to the limits on other travel concession cards in the state.

That would result in the cap rising to $3.80 in 2017-18, and to $4 a year later.