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Victoria and Tasmania have announced free public transport initiatives as Australia grapples with a deepening fuel crisis.
In Victoria, Premier Jacinta Allan confirmed that trains, trams, and buses will be free for all passengers starting Tuesday and continuing throughout April. The measure could be extended monthly depending on how the fuel situation evolves. During this period, commuters will not need to use their myki cards, with any unintended charges refunded and station gates left open to ease crowd movement. Annual myki passes will also be temporarily paused.
Allan acknowledged the policy would not solve every issue but said it aims to ease cost-of-living pressures and reduce reliance on fuel.
Meanwhile, in Tasmania, Premier Jeremy Rockliff announced that buses and ferries will be free from March 30 to July 1. The move follows a surge in public transport usage, which rose by 20% in the past week. Authorities say the initiative is designed to make travel more affordable and relieve pressure on household budgets, with passengers not required to tap their GreenCard during the free travel period.
Public reaction has been mixed. Some residents, particularly in regional areas, questioned the benefits due to limited transport access, while others raised concerns about increased congestion and parking demand. In Tasmania, the initiative has been more positively received, though some have called for expanded services to meet growing demand.
Elsewhere, in New South Wales, unions are urging the government to introduce similar measures, including free or heavily discounted fares, to counter rising petrol prices. However, Transport Minister John Graham has yet to commit, instead encouraging more cautious fuel use.
The measures come as fuel shortages continue to affect parts of Australia, prompting the federal government, led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, to prepare emergency legislation aimed at boosting fuel imports and stabilizing supply.
