Thursday, 19 February 2026

 Gabrielle WILLIAMS (Dandenong – Minister for Transport Infrastructure, Minister for Public and Active Transport) (14:31): Labor do not just talk about bringing down the cost of living, we do it. It has been six weeks since the Allan government made public transport free for kids under the age of 18, and the response has been overwhelming. More than 375,000 youth Mykis have been issued, and tap-ons across our network have now passed 1.8 million. Each one of those tap-ons represents a saving for Victorian families – savings of both time and of course money as well. Right across Victoria young families are benefiting from the youth Myki. Just ask, for example, the member for Glen Waverley about the impact on families in his electorate, with more than 6000 youth Mykis purchased at his local train stations, or the member for Box Hill, with the more than 11,500 youth Mykis that have been issued at local stations in his community.

And it is not just young Victorians. More than 280,000 carers and disability support pensioners and more than 650,000 seniors can now travel for free on public transport anywhere in Victoria every single weekend. Speaker, as a regional MP, you will be as excited as I am by the upcoming three-year anniversary of our regional fare cap, which is saving Bendigo line passengers up to $50 per return trip and has seen more than 71 million train and coach passengers take up these more affordable fares, encouraging people to get out there and explore our beautiful state. Labor is cutting public transport fares to save families money and give families more options. Meanwhile, the Liberal–One Nation coalition is planning to cut services because they need to fill that black hole somehow.