Greens Cheap Fare Plan | Save Thousands & Boost Patronage

The Victorian Greens want every public-transport trip to cost just 50¢ for a year—saving households $5,000 and aiming to revive ridership after COVID.

How the 50-cent fare would work

The Greens' radical public transport pricing proposal would establish a flat 50¢ Myki fare per trip with a daily cap of $1.50 across all trains, trams, and buses statewide for a 12-month trial period. This represents a dramatic simplification of Melbourne's complex zone-based fare structure while delivering unprecedented affordability for regular commuters.

Children, concession holders, and off-peak travelers would retain free travel under existing arrangements, while V/Line regional fares remain capped at $12 return under current schemes. The proposal includes accelerated tap-to-pay technology rollout, allowing commuters to use phones or contactless cards without requiring physical Myki cards.

Eligibility and exemptions

The 50¢ fare applies to adult full-fare passengers, while maintaining existing free travel arrangements for vulnerable groups. This targeted approach ensures cost-of-living relief reaches working families while preserving social equity protections for those who need them most.

• Universal adult pricing: 50¢ flat fare regardless of distance or zones traveled
• Maintained exemptions: Children, concession holders, off-peak seniors retain free travel
• Regional integration: Town buses and city trams in Ballarat/Bendigo included
• Payment flexibility: Myki, tap-to-pay, or mobile phone payment options

Estimated cost and ridership uplift

Department briefings indicate the 50¢ fare trial would cost $740 million in net farebox revenue loss over 12 months, partially offset by a $180 million boost to CBD retail spending as increased foot traffic drives economic activity. Queensland's similar 50¢ trial generated a 42% patronage surge within four weeks, with the Greens modeling comparable 35-40% growth in Melbourne's network.

For regular commuters, the savings are substantial: Melbourne households using public transport five days per week could save almost $5,000 annually according to Greens estimates. This represents significant cost-of-living relief while encouraging modal shift from private vehicle use to sustainable public transport options.

Economic impact and patronage projections

The Greens' 50-cent fare trial would generate significant economic and social benefits beyond simple transport cost reduction. The policy aims to stimulate economic activity while providing substantial household budget relief during cost-of-living pressures.

• $740m farebox loss, $180m retail boost: Net cost partially offset by increased CBD economic activity from higher foot traffic
• 42% patronage surge in Queensland: Similar trial generated massive ridership increases within four weeks of implementation
• $5,000 annual household savings: Regular five-day commuters could achieve substantial cost-of-living relief
• Environmental benefits: Reduced car dependency and emissions from modal shift to public transport

Government and Liberal responses

Labor characterizes the cost as 'unaffordable' while state debt levels remain elevated, preferring targeted concession expansion over universal fare reduction. The government argues existing initiatives like Free Tram Zone and weekend V/Line caps provide sufficient affordability support without requiring massive revenue sacrifice.

The Liberals support cheaper public transport fares but advocate means-testing and off-peak discounts to spread demand rather than universal reductions. The Public Transport Users Association welcomes the affordability focus but warns the network requires substantial service increases to accommodate a projected 40% patronage surge without compromising reliability.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Greens' 50¢ fare proposal represents the most radical public transport pricing reform attempted in Australian politics, promising transformational affordability while challenging governments to prioritize accessibility over revenue generation. International experience suggests very low fares can stimulate substantial ridership growth, though capacity constraints require parallel service investment.

Success depends on effective crowd management, service reliability during patronage surges, and sustainable funding mechanisms beyond the trial period. The proposal's appeal lies in its simplicity and immediate household budget relief, though critics question long-term fiscal sustainability and network capacity impacts.