NSW Government Rules Out Free Public Transport To Help With Fuel Crisis

New South Wales has ruled out free public transport despite a deepening national fuel crisis, with the state government warning the disruption could last months rather than weeks.

The decision comes as Victoria and Tasmania move in the opposite direction, introducing temporary fare-free travel to ease pressure on households grappling with soaring petrol prices and supply shortages.

NSW Transport Minister John Graham said the Minns government would not adopt a similar approach, arguing the crisis required longer-term planning rather than short-term relief.

“We’re not going down the path of free public transport for a couple of days or for a month,” he said, adding the government needed to “keep our powder dry” to support the broader economy.

“It’s millions of dollars every single day [of free public transport].

“This situation will last more than a month. We are really planning to make sure that we can make it through this next period.”

Fuel shortages are worsening across the state, with dozens of service stations already running dry and many more experiencing limited supply. The crisis, driven by the USA and Israel’s war on Iran disrupting oil flows, has pushed petrol prices sharply higher and increased weekly household fuel costs.

While critics, including unions and the opposition, argue free or reduced fares would provide immediate cost-of-living relief, the NSW government maintains that fare revenue is essential to keeping the transport network running reliably.

Instead, the state is focusing on contingency planning and potential service adjustments, including boosting capacity on busy routes.