Victorians and Tasmanians get free public transport as state governments seek to ease surge in fuel demand | Victorian politics
Public transport will be free for a month in Victoria and until July in Tasmania to encourage people to stop driving and ease the rise in fuel demand.
The Allan government announced on Sunday that it will make all metro and regional V/Line trams, trains and buses free from March 31 until the end of April.
The government said the free tickets were only a temporary measure and would not be permanent.
Also on Sunday morning, Tasmanian premier Jeremy Rockliff announced buses and Derwent River ferries will be free across the state from March 30 to July 1.
The state’s transport minister, Kerry Vincent, said the plan would save passengers between $20 and $88 a week.
The energy shock from the war in the Middle East has caused gasoline and diesel prices to rise and fuel shortages in parts of Australia.
In federal parliament, ACT senator David Pocock and the Greens have been calling for free public transport across the country during the fuel crisis.
But despite having to pay much more for fuel, Australians don’t appear to be driving less or using public transport more, according to Guardian Australia’s analysis of usage data earlier this week; at least for now.
During the free period in Victoria, the state government has promised that all Myki doors will be open and passengers will not have to touch them. No fee will be charged to those who do it by mistake, and a refund can be made for any reason.
The government said Myki passes, including annual passes, will automatically be paused and resume after April.
People traveling on V/Line buses outside the Myki network will need to book a free ticket to secure their seat. However, people will not need a ticket to travel on trains outside the Myki network.
The state government has said it expects public transport to intensify but can accommodate the increase in demand.
Premier Jacinta Allan says she is committed to doing everything within her control to help Victorians cope with rising fuel prices.
“This is a temporary measure to help with living costs; it will take the pressure off the pump and help you save money,” he said.
“This won’t solve every problem, but it’s an urgent step to help Victorians right now as we continue to work on new solutions to make Victoria more affordable.”
Across Australia, weekly petrol bills for the average household using 35 liters of fuel have risen by $20 or more since the end of February.
