Melbourne Mayor Sally Capp came up with a radical idea that made public transport in Melbourne free, but was opposed by the state government. Although the Melbourne City Council has no right to introduce such a policy, the Mayor of Capp raised this idea when discussing the possibility of expanding the CBD free tram area.
She told 3AW: “If our entire public transportation system is free, isn’t that great? I don’t know how this is implemented economically. I just put it up, but I really feel that it is spent on ticket checking. There may be a compromise between the cost of staff and other aspects.”
In 2018, the Victorian Transportation Network’s fare revenue exceeded A$900 million. A Andrews government spokesman said: “There is no plan to expand the free tram zone and there is no plan to offer free travel on Melbourne’s train network.
Victoria is currently arranging generous public transport privileges, and the free CBD tram area allows people to travel to some of Melbourne’s most popular destinations for free. ”
Opposition traffic spokesperson David Davis said that although “opening a blank check is a good idea,” free public transportation will leave a big hole in the future budget. He said: “If you get less money from the toll box, you don’t have the ability to do the projects that the entire system might need.”
Daniel Bowen, spokesperson for the Public Transport Users Association, said that the main obstacle for most people to use the public transport system is not the fare, but “the lack of service.”
When asked by the Herald Sun, the mayor said that free public transportation is a hot topic in the community. “But in reality, the revenue we get from the public transportation system is necessary to operate the network and help fund major upgrades that are currently underway,” she said.
The House of Lords passed a bill proposed by Transport Secretary Rob Barton to consider expanding the free tram area. Mr. Barton hopes that the free tram area includes the MCG, the National Gallery, the Memorial and the Melbourne Zoo.
According to Melbourne’s public transport contract, subway trains cost $330 million a year in maintenance and renovation projects, while Yarra trams cost $81.5 million a year for the same project.
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