Calls For Public Transport Fare Relief Persist Amid Petrol Pump Pain

Increased fuel costs amidst the situation in the Strait of Hormuz are continuing to prompt calls for free public transport, despite the Minns Government ruling it out.

Before Easter, the Liberals called for fares to be suspended over the long weekend; this went unheeded. The Greens want reprieve for a longer period, following in the footsteps of Victoria and Tasmania. Those states have suspended fares for two months until the end of May, a move expected to cost the former $432 million.

The Rail, Tram and Bus Union is on board. “Public transport fares are a lever the state government has complete control of,” its New South Wales secretary Toby Warnes said in late March. He found it “beyond belief” that there had been no announcement of free or reduced fares.

Premier Chris Minns rejected such calls at the time. “I want to make sure that we’ve got enough resources and money available to help NSW families if we’re in a prolonged situation. There’s no such thing as free public transport. At the end of the day, someone’s paying for it.”

Public support is high

Sydneysiders commenting to the City Hub were mostly in favour of reprieve, though a number of individual opinions were expressed. Young professional Archie Woodhouse supported targeted relief for those on welfare. “Public transport should be available for those who need it the most. Looking for a job, you can hop on a free bus and head to your interview.”

University of Sydney student Natan Bedrosian, who lives in the Western Suburbs, preferred that the frequency of buses and trains be increased. “Buses should come every 15 minutes instead of 30.”

Lachlan, a tradesperson, drives to work. He disagreed with axing fares, stressing the need to think of blue collar workers, whose jobs may require a car.

Greens MP launches petition

Shadow treasurer Scott Farlow said that “families are being squeezed by rising costs including fuel costs, and the Liberals and Nationals have put forward practical proposals to help.”

These include “a 24-hour petrol price cap to free public transport over Easter, a fuel excise cut, and a long-term fuel resilience plan.”

“The Minns Labor Government has refused to consider or advocate for these real solutions and has no plan of its own.”

A petition from Greens Balmain MLA Kobi Shetty to suspend fares for the duration of the fuel crisis presently has 600 signatures. “Our community needs urgent relief from skyrocketing transport costs,” it reads.

“That’s why I introduced a motion to NSW Parliament calling on the Labor government to make public transport free during the fuel crisis.”

“It was incredibly disappointing to see the NSW Premier say he wouldn’t consider making public transport free in NSW at this stage,” Shetty wrote.

“People are doing it tough, and this would make a real difference. If more people in metropolitan areas were encouraged to use public transport, it would also free up fuel reserves for the regions. It’s a win-win.”

Public transport is penny-wise, says agency

A Transport for NSW spokesperson noted that existing caps and concessions offer savings for travellers.

“Public transport remains the value-for-money option, with adults paying no more than $50 per week for unlimited travel across the Opal enabled network, concessions — including apprentices and university students — $25 per week, and seniors and pensioners no more than $2.50 per day.”

“75 per cent of the cost of running public transport in NSW is already subsidised by government, and all ticket revenue is reinvested back into providing safe, reliable and equitable services for the community.”  

“There are no plans to make public transport permanently free in NSW.”

A recent University of Melbourne study found that Victoria’s fare suspension induced few regular drivers to take public transport instead. Rather, increased patronage largely came from existing users. 78 per cent of survey respondents believed that public transport should be free during fuel price shocks.