Sydney mocks Melbourne over Myki overhaul

Melbourne is being roasted for its slow overhaul of its transport system - including a ‘new’ system set for 2025 that Sydney has already had in place for years.

Yesterday the Andrews government announced the Victorian public transport system, Myki, would be revamped.

Melbourne is being roasted for its slow upgrade of its public transport system, after an announcement by the Victorian government left many scratching their heads.

On Monday, the Andrews government announced the Victorian public transport system, Myki, would be revamped with commuters able to use their smartphone or credit card to tap on and off the state’s transport network.

The improvement will be added following a trial in regional Victoria in 2024 and rolled out across the state in 2025.

The overhaul is set to cost taxpayers $1.7 billion over 15 years.

The new payment system is already in use in NSW. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Paul Jeffers Picture: Jake Nowakowski

But social media users were quick to point out the technology has been in use in NSW since 2018 and is already being trialled in South Australia, as well as operating around the world.

One Facebook user remarked that “Melbourne was so much behind Sydney”.

Another described the Victorian government as “beyond useless”.

“Brings in basic services from other cities and makes them out as ground breaking. Must be top shelf system to take so long! A simple transitional piece of software..”

Public Transport Minister Ben Carroll did not return calls from news.com.au about why a trial was necessary given other states and countries had already adopted the improvements years ago.

But yesterday he described the improvement as an “important step in the evolution of myki as a future-proofed ticket to travel on Victoria’s world-class public transport system”.

“We are taking a system that has been tested in Paris, in Dubai, in Montreal, in New Jersey, and bringing that system into Melbourne,” he told reporters.

A 2 year trial starting in 2024 for digital Myki and credit card tap on options?

NSW has been able to tap on with credit/debit cards since 2018.

Why should Victorians wait till 2026?#springst

— David Southwick MP (@SouthwickMP) May 15, 2023

Victorian deputy leader of the Liberals David Southwick told news.com.au he did not believe the trial was necessary.

“Why are we trialling these things?” he said. “We know that other states are doing it, just pick up the phone to NSW and ensure we do the same.”

“We don’t need to reinvent the wheel, lets just roll this stuff out and catch up so all Victorians can benefit.

“Victoria is so far behind the wheel.”

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and Minister for Public Transport Ben Carroll at yesterday’s announcement. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

Melbourne is being roasted on social media for its slow overhaul of its public transport system. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Public Transport Users Association spokesman Daniel Bowen urged the public to be patient when speaking to 3AW radio.

“It’s definitely a good thing,” he said.

“I think people who have been travelling have seen bigger and better systems, particularly credit card options for fare payments I think will be very welcome.”

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