SAโข Opposition Pledges 50-Cent Public Transport Fare if Elected
Adelaide, SA – Southโข australia’s Liberal opposition has announced a plan to slash public transport fares to a flat 50 cents per passenger, applying to all metropolitan public transport โand regional bus services, shoudl they win the state election next year.The policy,unveiled today,aims to boost patronage which remains โฃsubstantially below pre-COVID levels.
The proposed fare reduction builds on a recentโ government initiative lowering the โcost of a 28-day student pass to โฃ$10, equating to 25 cents per ride.โฃ Opposition transport spokesperson Ben Hood stated evidence from interstate suggests a flatโ fee could increase public transport usage by “up to 40 per cent.”
Premier Peter Malinauskasโฃ criticized โขthe Liberal plan, arguing it is underfunded and fails to account for the necessary investment in additional buses, trains, and trams to accommodate a potential surge in passengers. “One of โtheโค reasons why it’s underfunded is because they’re not going to invest โฆ โin the โขadditional buses, the โtrains and the trams that would actually be required to accommodate additional passengers,” he said.
The current labor government recently implemented a โtailored fareโฃ system designed to best suit South Australians,according โคto Transport Minister Tom Tarzia.
Greens MLC Robert Simms has voiced support for the Liberal’s announcement, stating “it’s one the community supports.”
