Victoria Labor promises $30 weekly public transport fare cap

Victorian Premier Ben Carroll has announced a proposal to cap weekly public transport fares at $30 for full fare holders and $15 for concession card users. If Labor is re-elected in the November 28 state election, the cap would be implemented for a two-year period starting in January next year.

The measure is designed to provide cost-of-living relief as current half-price fare discounts are scheduled to expire on December 31. For a commuter traveling five days a week at the full daily rate of $11.40, the cap would save approximately $27 per week, or roughly $1,400 annually. Under the plan, most regular commuters would reach the spending limit partway through their third day of travel.

Existing concessions, such as free travel for under-18s and free weekend travel for seniors, would remain in place. The proposal is expected to cost the state $206 million. In response, the Victorian Greens have called for permanently free public transport funded by increased corporate taxes, while the Coalition has pledged to focus on service delivery through an independent board and investment in new hybrid electric trains.