Overview
- The Victorian government, which announced the changes Sunday, will keep travel free through May and then cap daily Myki fares at $5.70 from June 1 to December 31, with an estimated $432 million hit to revenue.
- Officials said the goal is to ease household budgets and reduce petrol and diesel demand by shifting trips from cars, though new research finds lower fares alone rarely move many drivers without better service.
- Early data from Victoria shows about a 10% jump in public transport use since fares were waived, and transport officials report a recent decline in road kilometres traveled in Melbourne.
- Regional services face strain, with lines such as Warrnambool experiencing crowding and suspended seat reservations, and some passengers fearing they cannot board replacement buses.
- Western Australia, in a Sunday budget move, will make free Sunday travel and a free Ride to School program permanent at a cost of $70.1 million, adding to earlier fare concessions across Transperth and Transwa.