Australian states announce free public transport amid rising fuel prices

The governments of the Australian states of Victoria and Tasmania on Sunday announced free public transport initiatives in response to rising fuel prices.



Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said the state government would make all public transport services free for a month from Tuesday.



She said in a joint statement with Gabrielle Williams, Victoria's minister for Public and Active Transport, that the measure would make it more affordable for people to choose public transport amid a spike in fuel prices driven by the Middle East conflict and oil crisis.



"I'm determined to do everything within my control to help Victorians deal with rising fuel prices," Allan said.



According to the Australian Institute of Petroleum (AIP), the national average price for regular unleaded fuel hit a record-high of 2.38 Australian dollars per liter in the week ending March 22, marking an increase of 27 percent since the outbreak of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.



Public transport fares in Victoria are currently capped at 11.4 Australian dollars per day.



The government said that making all services free for a month would cost an estimated 70 million Australian dollars.