Victorian Labor Pledges $30 Weekly Public Transport Cap Starting January 1

The Victorian Labor government has announced a $30 weekly cap on public transport fares, set to take effect on 1 January 2025 — the day after the current half-price fare scheme expires.

Premier Ben Carroll confirmed the measure on Monday, framing it as direct cost-of-living relief for commuters. “This is real cost-of-living relief that helps a regular commuter save $1,400 a year,” Carroll said. “Everyone can benefit, but full-time workers will benefit most.”

The two-year initiative, running through December 2028, carries a $206 million price tag. The government says it will be funded through “commonsense decisions to reduce spending” elsewhere, acknowledging the cap is not sustainable long-term.

The Greens leader, Ellen Sandell, criticised the plan as insufficient. “After 12 years in government, Labor is only offering Victorians a temporary discount with an expiry date after the election,” she said. “People are sick of paying more and getting less. We need more frequent, reliable and accessible trains, trams and buses that people can actually depend on.”

The announcement follows Labor’s Sunday pledge to cap road tolls at $30 per week for a year, potentially saving regular drivers up to $5,000. The Coalition had previously committed to a $50 weekly toll cap if elected in November.

Opposition leader Jess Wilson dismissed the move as political mimicry. “Imitation is the best form of flattery,” she told reporters. Wilson argued Labor could not be trusted to lower tolls after consistently raising them during 12 years in office. “Victorians are paying higher tolls today as a direct consequence of the decision making of this Labor government, and you simply cannot trust them now, five minutes to midnight, that they’re going to reduce tolls.”

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