If elected, the Australian Greens have committed to slashing public transport costs to just 50 cents nationally, given the success of Queensland’s recent shift to cheaper fares.
The party said they want to extend affordable fares nationwide to help ease the financial pressure on households and save commuters thousands.
“In a wealthy country like ours, everyone should be able to afford the basics. 50c fares will help people make ends meet,” explained Adam Bandt, leader of the Australian Greens, in a statement on Friday.
And while the minor party might not have the numbers to pass such legislation by themselves, Bandt highlighted the Greens’ role and influence in the event of a Labor minority government.
“We can’t keep voting for the same two parties and expecting a different result,” he said, adding the party could “get Labor to act on the cost-of-living crisis”.
“With poll after poll indicating we’re headed towards a minority parliament, if people vote Greens we can get cost-of-living relief like 50c fares.”
Such pressure already resulted in 50c fares in Queensland last year, which commenced as a trial and has become permanent with tripartisan support, Bandt observed.
“The major parties can’t say it’s impossible, because it’s happening right now in Queensland,” he said.
Per the Greens’ estimates, the plan could see a full-time worker in Melbourne save $2,400 a year. Meanwhile, commuters in Sydney and Perth could save over $2,000 annually and a full-time worker in Adelaide would be able to save around $1,872.
Greens transport spokesperson Elizabeth Watson-Brown also highlighted the “huge success” of the Queensland proposal back in November, which she said has reduced traffic and emissions and massively increased public transport footfall.
“Now it’s time to roll out 50c fares across the country. If it’s good enough for both Queensland Labor and LNP, surely it’s good enough for Federal Labor,” she stated.
An independent costing by the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) reveals this would cost the federal government around $8.1 billion dollars over the forward estimates.
The Greens’ plan includes an additional $250 million to help the states and territories adopt a “smart ticketing” system, allowing travellers to use their phone, credit or debit cards.
But the proposal — among a raft of ‘Robin Hood reforms’ for any post-election negotiations — can be funded by making big corporations pay their fair share of tax, according to the Greens.
“The Greens will make big corporations and billionaires pay tax so you can have 50c fares,” Bandt said.
The party has been pretty vocal about the need for a more equitable tax system, having previously called for a 40 per cent tax on the “excessive profits” of big corporations which they estimate will raise $296 billion.
Similarly, what they term ‘big corporations taxes’ on oil, gas, coal, and mining is estimated to raise another $200 billion.
Australian billionaires are reportedly making $67,000 an hour, with their collective wealth soaring by a staggering $28 billion in 2024 alone, per a recent Oxfam report.
Lead image: Martin Ollman and Jenny Evans/ Getty Images
The post The Greens Push For 50c Public Transport Fares Nationwide appeared first on PEDESTRIAN.TV .
