Wednesday, 1 April 2026

 Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:37): Yesterday afternoon I spent some time at Parliament station and had the opportunity to speak to a whole range of passengers on our great public transport system about what free public transport means to them. Do you know what Victorians told me? The answer was simple. It might be ridiculed by those opposite, but it was simple: it takes the pressure off. I had a young nursing student from Victoria University tell me that it gave him room to breathe in his week. He was not scrambling around for those last few dollars in the bottom of his bag, working out whether he could afford to catch the train. Another person told me about how it meant that they could have some more money to do things with their kids, to pay the grocery bills. These are things that worry parents all around the state. It means being able to do a proper shop at the grocery while you are watching every single dollar. Also I heard from people who would normally drive into the city. They are catching public transport because we have made it free. This is a little bit of help, but it is making a real difference because it does not just save money – and it does save money – it also helps take the pressure off.

It is not the only measure that we are working on to make life a little bit easier for families. We are making working from home a right because it saves time and money. We are improving public transport so people can get home to their families sooner. We are building more homes in places that families want to live and can afford to live, near train stations and near jobs. And we are helping families with school costs, whether it is free dental, free public transport or help with uniforms. We know there are some who are opposed to giving people back time in their day, opposed to getting young people into their first home, opposed to getting Victorians home safer and sooner. Victorians know it is only Labor that is looking to make life easier and more affordable.