As the war in the Middle East continues, various Australian states have introduced lower public transport fares to alleviate travel cost pressures for most Australians.
The Victorian state government announced it will extend free public transport until the end of May 2026, while halving public transport fares until the end of this year.
According to the state government, daily commuters will save more than $850 on average under the temporary travel relief plan.
Tasmania has introduced a similar relief program since March 2026, with more than 5000 residents taking advantage of free public transport in the first week since it was announced.
While most commuters would welcome extra cash in their pockets, recent data has revealed that free or cheap mass transit is not enough to sway a majority of Aussie drivers to get off the roads.
According to a survey conducted by Melbourne University researchers, which polled close to 2000 Australians across Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland, 42 per cent of participants said they’ve reduced driving amid the ongoing petrol crisis.
Despite this, less than 30 per cent of commuters made the switch to public transport in response to the country’s high petrol costs.
Of the states analysed in the study, Victoria recorded the highest percentage, with 26 per cent of commuters taking advantage of the state’s free public transport during the current economic pressure.
In New South Wales, close to 24 per cent said they’re using mass transit, such as trains and buses, as an alternative travel option, despite the state not implementing reduced fares.
Though the state offers some of the lowest public transport fees at 50c, only 21 per cent of Queensland respondents said they’ve made the switch to public transport during their commute.
Additionally, only 15 per cent of Queenslanders said they’ve utilised alternative transport for non-work trips, while 17 per cent of NSW respondents and 19 per cent of Victorians also switched to mass transit for their non-work commutes.
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Ethan Cardinal graduated with a Journalism degree in 2020 from La Trobe University and has been working in the fashion industry as a freelance writer prior to joining Drive in 2023. Ethan greatly enjoys investigating and reporting on the cross sections between automotive, lifestyle and culture. Ethan relishes the opportunity to explore how deep cars are intertwined within different industries and how they could affect both casual readers and car enthusiasts.
