Wednesday, 8 February 2023

 Juliana ADDISON (Wendouree) (14:43): (2) My constituency question is for the Minister for Public Transport. Would the minister please provide me with an update on the Andrews Labor government’s plan for cheaper regional public transport fares? Fairer fares are a game changer for my community and indeed all Victorians. As someone born and bred in Ballarat, I have been a V/Line passenger for decades, relying on the Ballarat to Melbourne service to get to uni and to work, as well as using V/Line to get to events like the cricket, the footy and concerts. With cost-of-living pressures increasing, Victorians are looking for ways to save money. One way our government is addressing the pressures is by capping regional public transport fares at the metro rate of $9.20. This is a significant saving for a daily peak return fare from Ballarat to Melbourne, with the fare slashed from $45.60 to $9.20. This will deliver a massive saving for passengers, particularly those who catch the train to and from Melbourne multiple times a week. I cannot wait to report back to my community about fairer public transport fares.