Free public transport for children a sweetener in looming state budget

Victorian children will be able to travel free on public transport under a new state government pledge estimated to save families up to $755 per child each year.

The cost-of-living relief to be funded in Tuesday’s state budget will apply to all Victorians under 18 and is expected to become a permanent feature of the state’s transport system. It will take effect from January 1 next year.

Public transport will be free for Victorians under 18 from next year. Credit: Scott McNaughton

A new “youth myki” will allow free travel on all metropolitan and regional trains, trams and buses for anyone under 18, including in areas without myki access.

The scheme is expected to cost the government $318 million over four years, or about $79.5 million annually.

While the government could not confirm how many children and teens use public transport, it estimates up to 1 million young Victorians could be eligible.

Currently, a yearly student myki pass costs $755. A student who travels four times a week using daily tickets would spend about $1144 annually.

Maximum fares have increased by nearly 20 per cent since 2023. A full-fare daily myki now costs $11, while concession fares, including those for students and children, are $5.50.

In the 2023 financial year, the Victorian government collected about $617 million in ticketing revenue, according to the Department of Transport’s annual report.

Victorians caught without a myki face some of the toughest fines for fare evasion in the world, with evaders slugged $296. By comparison, NSW fines people $200, which can be reduced to $100 for recipients of Centrelink payments.

Premier Jacinta Allan said the government was focused on helping families ease the cost-of-living burden.

“Families are doing it tough, and I’m on their side,” she said.

Premier Jacinta Allan says the savings on public transport fares will support families doing it tough.Credit: Joe Armao

The free youth fares follow a weekend pledge to expand free public transport for seniors. From January, all seniors will be able to travel free across the metropolitan and regional networks on weekends.

It’s an expansion of the current policy, which covers travel within two neighbouring zones, allowing for short trips such as from Morwell to Traralgon, from Macedon to Woodend, or within metropolitan Melbourne.

Seniors won’t be charged for the weekend fares but will be required to touch on and off and carry a Victorian Seniors Card.

Seniors Card holders will continue to be eligible for a 50 per cent discount off the full fare on weekdays. To be eligible for a senior’s myki you must have a Victorian Seniors Card, which is available to permanent residents of Victoria aged 60 or over and who work less than 35 hours a week.

Allan said she hoped the free fares would boost patronage on regional networks and encourage more people to explore the state. “That would be a great outcome,” she said.

The transport sweeteners will be funded in Tuesday’s state budget, which is expected to tighten spending on key services as the government reins in debt, forecast to reach $188 billion by 2028, while continuing to fund major infrastructure projects.

It will be the first budget for Treasurer Jaclyn Symes, who previously flagged cuts to the public service and overhauling of government departments to find savings.

“I’m looking forward to joining the Treasurer, Jaclyn Symes, on Tuesday as [she] hands down her first budget, which is focused on what matters most for Victorians and working people,” Allan said on Saturday.

“We are focused on delivering a responsible budget that is focused on what working people and families expect the government to be focused on: investing in schools and hospitals, community safety.”

The state government on Thursday struck a last-minute deal with crossbenchers to double the fire services levy, protecting the treasurer’s projected budget surplus, but at a cost of millions in foregone revenue.

In December’s budget update, Victoria was forecast to post a $1.6 billion operating surplus in the 2025-26 financial year, which would be the state’s first surplus since before the pandemic.

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