Victoria makes public transport free for a month

Public transport across Victoria will be free from next week as the Victorian government aims to ease the impact of skyrocketing fuel prices.

Coming into effect on Tuesday, 31 March, passengers will not have to touch-on their myki travel card and all public transport gates will be open for a month.

V/Line trains, Melbourne’s trams and the public bus network are expected to get busier but the government says thousands of extra services have been added to meet demand.

“This is a temporary measure to help with the cost of living; it will take pressure off the pump and help you save,” premier Jacinta Allan said today.

“This won’t solve every problem but it’s an immediate step to help Victorians right now while we keep working on new solutions to make Victoria more affordable.”

The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) welcomed the measure, which the VFF had been calling for since last week.

“With fuel still under pressure, free public transport is one of the few practical levers available to help Victorians conserve fuel and save money,” VFF president, Brett Hosking, said.

“If Victorians make the switch, it can make a real difference. Every commuter who leaves their car at home frees up fuel for the essential, time-critical work that keeps Victorians fed, whether that’s ensuring livestock are fed and cared for, or getting crops in the ground.”

“We’re grateful the Premier has listened and acted. This is not a silver bullet and must be one of many levers pulled to navigate this crisis.”

Australians are again being urged to use common sense at the fuel pump as the federal government prepares special powers to help improve supply across the country.

Emergency laws will be introduced to federal parliament tomorrow which would allow the government to underwrite fuel suppliers seeking stock from across the world and bringing it to Australia.

The government will not pay for the fuel but rather use public funds as insurance for companies having to buy supplies as prices skyrocket.

Ongoing uncertainty about the Iran War, which has driven up prices and dwindled supplies amid a blockaded Strait of Hormuz, has caused the government to propose the special powers.

Prime minister, Anthony Albanese, says Australia’s fuel supplies are stable and will remain so for coming weeks.

However the powers will help the nation to be “overprepared” for ongoing conflict.

“This isn’t about dealing with something that will happen next week, this is prudent planning, this is about being overprepared,” he said yesterday.

“It’s a really practical measure so that if there’s a cargo ship out there available from a nation like Korea that is being bid upon, then the private sector can do that with the confidence that comes from government support in order to secure that additional supply.”

Australia presently has 39 days of petrol, 30 days of diesel and 30 days of jet fuel in stocks.

But people should not feel the need to stockpile fuel for themselves, with Albanese calling on individuals and businesses to use common sense.

“People need to take what they need and no more,” he said.

“I don’t want things to be mandated but common sense should apply as well.

“There are more people working from home who are able to do so, that makes sense. There are more people catching public transport than before [and] that also makes sense.”

– WITH AAP