Adelaide: South Australia’s Opposition has unveiled a plan to slash public transport fares to 50 cents per trip, promising relief for families struggling with rising living costs.
Opposition Leader Vincent Tarzia announced the policy on Sunday, saying it could save a family of four with two school‑aged children up to $100 a week on daily travel. This is an action that will make a genuine, practical difference to people working hard to get ahead,” Mr Tarzia said.
He acknowledged the idea was “not new,” noting that Queensland’s former Labor government first trialled 50‑cent fares before last year’s state election, with the policy later retained by the incoming Liberal government. “What we have done is tailored it in an appropriate manner to best suit South Australians,” he added.
Opposition transport spokesperson Ben Hood argued that evidence from interstate showed a flat‑fee model could boost public transport patronage by up to 40 per cent. He said such a lift would be welcome in South Australia, where usage remains well below pre‑Covid levels.
Premier Peter Malinauskas, however, dismissed the proposal, insisting the government had already conducted detailed analysis and that the Liberal costings “fell well short.”
The announcement sets the stage for a heated policy debate ahead of the next state election, with cost‑of‑living pressures expected to dominate the campaign.
+ There are no comments
Add yours