Victorian Labor has promised to cap public transport fares at $30 a week if it wins re-election on 28 November, with Premier Ben Carroll saying the measure would begin on 1 January 2027 and run for two years. Concession-card holders would pay no more than $15 a week, while existing benefits including free travel for children and free weekend travel for seniors would continue.
The proposed cap would follow the end of Victoria’s current half-price public transport period, which the state government says runs until 1 January 2027. Labor says regular commuters could save up to $1,400 a year under the weekly cap. The policy would cost an estimated $206 million over two years, according to the announcement reported by The Guardian.
There is a practical catch for commuters: Labor says the cap would initially require passengers to use a myki card. That comes despite the recent expansion of contactless payments across much of the network, allowing passengers to tap on with a bank card, smartphone or smartwatch. Public Transport Minister Vicki Ward said the government wanted to make the cap available through contactless payments as quickly as possible but did not give a date.
The announcement has also prompted debate over who would benefit most. Swinburne University transport expert Professor Hussein Dia said a fare cap could give households greater certainty during a cost-of-living squeeze, but warned that people who already have good access to trains, trams and buses and travel frequently would likely receive the greatest savings. Residents in outer suburban areas with limited public transport could benefit less, despite facing similar financial pressures.
The Victorian Council of Social Service welcomed the proposal, arguing that cheaper fares could help household budgets, reduce road congestion and support climate goals. The Greens, however, called for free public transport, saying a temporary cap would not address wider concerns about the affordability, frequency and reliability of services.
The Liberal-National Coalition has said it will not match Labor’s proposed public transport cap, with opposition leader Jess Wilson citing the state’s finances. The Coalition has instead announced a $51.2 million commitment to return passenger trains to Mildura and Dimboola by mid-2029 if it wins the election.
Labor’s transport promise comes after a separate pledge to cap road tolls at $30 a week for one year. Competing election commitments have prompted the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry to urge the major parties to show restraint with public spending.
For commuters, the proposal is not yet a current entitlement. It depends on Labor winning the election and implementing the policy, and details such as when contactless payments would be supported remain unresolved. In the meantime, the state’s existing half-price fares are scheduled to end as the proposed cap is due to begin, on 1 January 2027.
