Thursday, 4 June 2026

 Gabrielle WILLIAMS (Dandenong – Minister for Transport Infrastructure, Minister for Public and Active Transport, Minister for Women and Girls) (14:17): On this side of the house we are taking real steps to put more money back into household budgets, making it easier and more affordable for Victorians to get around. We know Trump’s war in the Middle East has put enormous pressure on Victorian households. It is why the Allan Labor government took immediate steps to deliver free public transport in April and May, reducing pressure on the pump and saving Victorians money. During that free public transport period, we saw patronage return to pre-COVID levels, with more than 100 million trips – up 17 per cent on last year – and that told us loud and clear that this extra support was needed and was being embraced by Victorians. Because we know that Trump’s war will continue to put pressure and have an impact on households for some time to come, we have made public transport fares half-price until the end of the year, saving the regular commuter over $850.

This is on top of free public transport for kids. It is on top of the free weekend travel for seniors, disability support pensioners and carers as well. The only reason that Labor has been able to offer such significant fare relief is because we have invested in the projects that have boosted services and capacity around our public transport network, projects that those opposite opposed, extra services that those opposite opposed, affordability that those opposite opposed over and over again. And with a promise of over $40 billion in cuts, they are promising Victorians crush loading and gridlock for generations, particularly in some of our fastest growing areas in the country. They are blockers, not builders. They are cutters, not creators. Only Labor plans for the future.