Victorian Labor promises $30 weekly cap on public transport fares

Victorian Labor premier Ben Carroll has promised to cap public transport fares statewide at $30 a week if Labor is re-elected at the state election in November 2026. The Guardian

Carroll said the $30 weekly cap would begin on 1 January under the proposal, the day after the current half-price fares end.

He said the policy would cost the Victorian government $206 million in total and would run for two years until December 2028. Carroll said the weekly cap would save a regular commuter $1,400 a year under the proposal if adopted. Concession passengers would have their weekly fares capped at $15 under the proposal alongside the $30 general cap. The Age

Victoria introduced half-price public transport fares across the state after a period in which public transport was free. That free travel period was introduced at the time in response to the fuel crisis sparked by the US-Iran war.

Victorian Greens leader Ellen Sandell has urged the government in Victoria to make public transport free for passengers. The Greens have called for public transport in Victoria to be made permanently free instead of Labor's $30-a-week cap for two years.

Victorian Labor has pledged to cap road tolls at $30 a week for a year under its plan. The party says that toll policy would save regular toll users as much as $5,000 over the year under its plan. The Victorian Coalition has committed to a $50-a-week road toll cap if it is elected at the state election in November.