Australians to get free public transport amid fuel crisis

As petrol prices continue to crunch, millions of Australians will ride public transport for free, but the fuel relief measure won’t be rolled out nationwide.

The Australian states of Victoria and Tasmania unveiled a temporary fare reprieve as motorists continue to face price pain at the petrol pump on Sunday (March 29).

Uncertainty and crimped oil supplies due to the Iran war have driven up costs and led to fuel shortages at hundreds of service stations, reports Guardian.

One month into the United States Iran conflict, Australia is experiencing rising fuel prices, supply disruptions, and increased cost of living pressures.
View image in fullscreen

In response, the Victorian government will make public transport free for a month from Tuesday to encourage people to ditch their cars and offset rising fuel costs. The move is expected to cost Victoria $71m in lost revenue.

Victorian premier Jacinta Allan said a regular daily user could save up to $220 over the course of April.

She acknowledged the temporary measure would not solve cost-of-living pressures but argued it would ease demand for petrol.

“People are looking to their governments to do more,” she told reporters on Sunday.

“We should, and we need to.”