State Nationals Leader and Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh has dismissed claims by the Victorian Government that capped fares for regional travel have offset the cost-of-living crisis.
The government introduced the regional fare cap on March 31 last year, making regional public transport more affordable by capping the daily regional fare at the same price as the daily metropolitan fare.
Victorian passengers across the state have saved more than $50 million since the regional fare cap was introduced, with a Melbourne-to-Echuca return trip ticket, that previously cost $62, now capped at the daily metro fare of $10.60.
Because of this, regional travel patronage hit record numbers for December, January and February.
More than 409,000 trips have been taken on the Echuca line since the introduction of the regional fare cap.
“We’ve made fares fairer no matter where you live, easing the cost-of-living for Victorians, saving them millions of dollars since it was introduced a year ago,” Public and Active Transport Minister Gabrielle Williams said.
“We’re delighted fairer fares have been so popular, and we’ll continue transforming the regional rail network, upgrading every line in the state, adding bigger and better trains and additional services.”
State Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes also praised the affordability of public transport since introducing the regional fare cap.
“Whether you’re travelling throughout regional Victoria or heading into Melbourne for a show or the footy, with regional fares now so affordable public transport really is the way to see what our regions have to offer,” she said.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has been criticised for providing excuses for trains that have been consistently cancelled or terminated before they reach their stations, leaving many passengers stranded.
It is believed that in July last year alone, more than 500 V/Line services were cancelled, terminated early, or did not depart from where they were meant to.
In addition, former Premier Dan Andrews promised a daily cap on regional fares of $9.20 before the last election but this has now risen to $10.60.
Mr Walsh said the claims made by Ms Williams and Ms Symes about the capped fares helping the cost-of-living crisis were an insult to regional Victorians.
“Even more laughable, the Labor party only decided to cut and cap regional fares because the Liberal-Nationals made it a major part of their 2022 election campaign,” he said.
“For the Allan Labor government, with its appalling and so public financial mismanagement steering our state into the poor house, to tell anyone what a fantastic thing it has done for us all to cut a train or bus fares and then pretend that has made any difference is just plain pathetic.
“I dread to think how much money has been torn from the savings account of regional Victorians to try and plug the countless holes in the state’s coffers with the budget just weeks away, never mind how they pay through the nose for what they pay just to get through the week.”