Michael Daley pledges free public transport for schoolchildren

Schoolchildren will be able to travel for free on trains, buses and ferries regardless of where they live in NSW if State Labor wins the election next March, new ALP leader Michael Daley pledged today.

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Schoolchildren will be able to travel for free on trains, buses and ferries regardless of where they live in NSW if State Labor wins the election next March, new ALP leader Michael Daley pledged today.

Announcing the $44 million policy to give all school students up to the age of 18 free rides on public transport, Mr Daley said “families need help with cost of living pressures”.

He said the policy would apply to any travel by children under 18 attending a school, not just travel to and from school.

Shadow Minister for Transport Jodi McKay and NSW Labor leader Michael Daley announced the policy on Monday morning. Picture: AAP Image/Joel Carrett

Currently children under 16 pay half fare, and only students who live more than 2.3km from a primary school and 2.9km from a high school get free school travel.

Mr Daley said families would be “grateful” under the plan, as toll fares were eating into budgets.

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“A simple example is a family of four, like mine, going for a day trip to the Blue Mountains the fare for kids is $35,” Mr Daley said.

“That trip will be free. I know as a dad it’s not always practical, particularly on weekends, to ferry kids around on trains. When you have, like me, a daughter going to Oztag and the little fella playing football and another one doing swimming … but this policy will provide a free alternative that’s not currently there.”

Opposition transport spokeswoman Jodi McKay said the measures would be costed by the new parliamentary budget office and would include the Hunter, Illawarra, Blue Mountains and Southern Highlands areas, with the Opposition planning to make it statewide as soon as feasible.

Children will be able to use public transport for free if Labor wins the state election next year. Picture: AAP

“No matter where you go to school you will be treated equally,” she said. She said as a local MP she often received complaints about children not being eligible for free school travel, despite having to cross major roads.

“They still don’t get the student Opal because it’s based on distance,” she said. “It’s arbitrary.”

According to the Rail, Tram and Bus Union boss Bob Nanva it can cost $56 for a family with three children from the western suburbs to visit the city “so this will make a huge difference”.

“Encouraging more families to use public transport will help take cars off our congested roads, and reduce the crippling economic and social costs of transport congestion,” he said.

“That’s why this announcement is not just good news for families, it’s smart public policy.”