The Tasmanian state government has announced that from the March 30 until July 1st all public transport will be free across the bus network and the Derwent Ferry service.
Update: Offer extended until 30 June 2027.
From tomorrow, Tasmanian public transport will be free.
And we'll be keeping it free until July 1.
That's all buses, and the Derwent ferry as well.
Interesting given how dirt cheap they made buses recently. Nice that you can track buses on the app now so you know how late you're going to be.
Next time you're on the road take a note of what percentage of cars have more than one occupant. The problem isn't buses running late. The problem is too many cars. Can't keep building roads
I suppose it's a circle. People drive because buses aren't reliable -> more people on the road -> buses become more unreliable.
Doesn't help we have youths who cause issues which make Metro to shut down routes.
reducing fuel tax means theyll have to increase taxes elsewhere and whats to say that companies would just take the profits
Reduce the fuel excise by 20 cents and fuel will rise 20 cents in two weeks anyway.
Our fuel tax is quite low for a developed country, which is why we have seen a larger increase in fuel cost.
fuel tax low for some reasons. like euros they have more population and better public transport and govs policy so they get high fuel tax. but it is not the reason of larger increase in our fuel cost
Just start taxing the mining companies properly and it won't be an issue.
We both know that isnt happening cause both parties are paid off by mining companies
because all it will do is hand a windfall to retailers. like last time.
Did you graduate from school?
What do you think communism is?
What have they done that is 'communist'?
Last time they reduced the excise the fuel companies just pocketed most of the difference. Barely helped consumers in any significant way and just reduced government revenue. Pretty sure they won't do it in that way, but might consider another way to do it like the electricity payments.
last time fuel tax cut 2022, petrol prices did drop noticeably, also the retail price. u cant expect everyone to be kind, but most people will be benefit.
not for very long, they jacked it back to within weeks. Foreign tax-dodging companies took the increased profits.
@M00Cow: Official data show that the fuel tax cut was largely passed through to retail prices, rather than being clearly captured as extra profits by companies.
On social media, the view that <some companies pocketed the difference> has not been confirmed by authoritative data.
as happened last time, the fuel companies will just put up prices so they'll be back to a similar price, but instead of the Govt getting the money, shareholders pocket it.
It's a price jack due to lack of fuel, what we need is people to reduce fuel usage. I'm hoping it'll keep going so I can ride my ebike on the m1
the fuel price pull back due to international fuel price rocket up. not pocket by someone. check official data, not social media story.
30 days supply, prices should have stayed low for 30.days, not 1 day. When it ends, you.bet prices won't go down immediately.
not social media story.
Which social media story?
@M00Cow: the story said the cut of fuel tax is back to company profit. but the truth is the rising of price is caused by international fuel price not by single fuel retailer. the rising is worldwide not only aus. to be fair they need to give references or source to prove the 'story'. sadly they never but just panic people. check the official data they tell u everything.
They're diametrically opposed responses. Making public transport free is designed to reduce fuel usage and so ease prices, whereas cutting fuel tax will increase fuel usage and so exacerbate a fuel shortage by weakening the price signal from the market. The last thing the government should be doing is enacting measures that will increase fuel use.
the reduction in fuel tax is still small to bring prices back to their previous normal levels. but current fuel price is significantly weakening the market, i mean all, everywhere, even the price of eggs in ur fridge. stay at home or reduce fuel usage wont fix anything. Also, do you think the weak public transport can afford people's demand? especially in suburban and regional areas—would still rely on private cars,
Be that as it may, if the primary purpose of policies responding to the Iran war fuel shock isn't to ease hardship but to do everything possible but to preserve precarious fuel supplies then any measure that stimulates fuel demand - as a cut to fuel excise would do - would be irresponsible and completely out of bounds.
On the other hand if they figure that they can ride out the crisis with a high degree of certainty then maybe expect a cut to fuel excise.
@dudleydoright: We should recognise that currently fuel supply is everything in Australia. we are far away from using electricity power on trucks, ships and airplanes
@aaron1988: Yes it is, so running out would be a very bad thing. Hence the logic of letting increased price apply pressure on its own so that everybody that can get by without using it is incentivized to do so.
In any case, the government has halved the fuel excise for three months so either they believe they can make it through or that it's obvious that prices will get high enough regardless (the discount drops prices to about what they were mid-March when prices were already considered eye-wateringly high) and it's worth it to ease pressure on those areas that genuinely have no way to change behavior. Or be seen to at least.
Albo has slashed the fuel excise by half now, happy now?
u and ur family are happy too.
We should ask Americans to pay the bill.
Sure, but since methy dad keeps starting fights with all the neighbours, maybe we shouldn't give dad that $300b.
Yea… That's a good point so… Why are you giving methyl dad $300b??? Are you stupid 😃
Confront the person that is directly doing the damage not some third-party.
I agree, We should sanction Israel.
Why worry when US says the war is ending soon?
Yeah the war Trump says isn't a war, but rather a military operation. He says their nuclear capabilities are a threat, but also he obliterated them months ago. The war he doesn't need any help with, but complains that no one is helping the US.
The war the he says is over but then deploys tens of thousands more troops.
At least they don't extend it on purpose to burn old war equipments and build new ones. Thats a solid reason to boost the military spending.
Both major parties seem to be the butt lickers of the USA.
LNP are worse for throwing billions at foreign made submarines and signing us up to free trade agreements that benefit the US.
While it a good gesture, it doesn't solve cost of living crisis we are all in. What about asking Woolies/Coles to charge 5% extra on the entire bill as temporary measure and not increase prices of individual items? Because when war ends, prices never come back to previous price.
This is great for everyone in my family except me. Unfortunately, being a nurse doing shift work means there is generally only public transport at either the start or end of my shift, never both. Maybe if they were to put on earlier or later services that ran within a 30 minute walk from home. As it is we can drive ourselves and pay $16+ parking a day or get the bus one way and get Uber or our partners to pick us up - either way we're paying for fuel. Still, this offer is still a positive.
QLD is 50 cents for years now
That's 50 cents more than Tas
not for the past 18mth or after 2nd July. :-P
Time for QLD to step up
@Clear: Qld just approved the construction of Trump Tower. In the middle of a war in which Trump is a key antagonist. With alleged terrorists. Then they approved it to be the tallest building in Australia. That worked out well on 9/11.
Do you believe that Qld should be making any decisions atm?
@Satchimo: [ABC:] Gold Coast mayor yet to decide if he'll vote on Trump tower after gifts (Thu 26 Mar)
In short:
Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate says it is too early to say whether he will excuse himself from a future Trump tower vote, after he received gifts from the organisation.
The mayor's latest register of interests reveals the Trump Organization paid for Cr Tate's meals and more during a recent Mar-a-lago stay.
What's next?
The Centre for Public Integrity says Mr Tate must exclude himself from any future decision-making about the tower.
Free is hard to control and monitor. 50c is good enough. Qld needs to keep the $2 pool for all year long. So people with disabilities, kids, and seniors can exercise and heal without holding back.
Oh yes those officers are going to have a hard time checking to make sure everyone got onboard for free when it's free /s
yep that's the way to change usage.
Rather then using a temp reduction in fuel tax, make a permanent shift in usage that benefits most in the long run.
I talk to a lot of delivery drivers doing the M1 Briz-GC and apparently congestion is getting noticeably less over the past 2 weeks. It seems like people are making less trips.
They make $m from those who don't pay. You see security guys almost everywhere. Can be good, can be bad.
Where is NSW?
It's on the east coast of Australia.
All the services would end up delayed and cancelled more than they already are
I'd like to see the Japanese manage the public transport …
They almost did in the 1940's
Sometimes negged you. They must work for NSW public transport.
All of my comments are getting negged in this deal. Someone is struggling controlling their emotions and I'd hate to see how they manage to navigate real life.
Doesn’t matter, paid full peak price on Thursday, took me more than double the normal time to get home
The cons of living in a large capital city.
Expecting NSW to take the lead is hilarious
At least NSW didn't just approve the construction of the tallest building in Australia and allow it to be called Trump Tower.
As far as I can find, it's the Gold Coast Council that may have approved the building, not the QLD government.
What would you have them do? You can't reject an application because it's associated with particular person, or the council will be sued and lose.
What reason would YOU give to not approve the tower, a reason that is legally sound?
I feel it should also be mentioned that the liberal party currently controls both the Gold Coast Council and the QLD government. The liberal party is traditionally pro-business.
What reason would YOU give to not approve the tower, a reason that is legally sound?
"It's well above our local height restrictions."
Alternatively, what reason did we give the last three times it was rejected?
I actually don't oppose the Tower, but calling it Trump in this environment is just bananas. Surely even Trump could respect that reasoning. How about Baron? I think one of his sons is called Baron and it's a pretty prestigious name.
Marriott doesn't name all of its hotels Marriott.
They want to build a massive tower in the middle of one of Australia's major tourist zones and call it Trump Tower? At least they won't need to paint a target practise sign on it for the terrorists.
Seems like it hasn't been approved yet anyway, I might have just jumped the gun.
I feel it should also be mentioned that the liberal party currently controls both the Gold Coast Council and the QLD government. The liberal party is traditionally pro-business.
Not sure why that's relevant?
It's well above our local height restrictions.
According to a news article from last year, there is no height restriction in Southport's CBD, so the argument for height restrictions in nearby areas is tenuous.
@Russ: I think it is proposed that Trump Tower is to be built in Surfer's Paradise, not Southport.
However you could have a valid point. Whilst SP is technically zoned unlimited (to accomodate Q1 and Soul) at 340m, Trump Tower needs Federal approval because it will breach the invisible floor set by Federal Aviation laws.
I think it is proposed that Trump Tower is to be built in Surfer's Paradise, not Southport.
Perhaps re-read what I wrote:
the argument for height restrictions in nearby areas is tenuous.
[emphasis added]
The liberal party is traditionally pro-business.
Not sure why that's relevant?
Because height restrictions are usually in place to placate the local residents. Liberal governments are typically more pro-business than "pro local residents".
Because height restrictions are usually in place to placate the local residents. Liberal governments are typically more pro-business than "pro local residents".
In this case 340m encroaches on Federal Aviation height restriction laws.
340m encroaches on Federal Aviation laws.
[emphasis added]
Well then, that'll need Australian government approval. Councils and state governments can't amend those laws. Nor are they required to police those laws, so not a reason for either of those levels of government to reject the application.
I reckon the actual building will not be as tall as being applied for, and it's an ambit claim. I suspect building such a tall building in that area will be shown to be uneconomical, due to the problems of deep excavation in sandy waterlogged soil. The taller a building is, the deeper it's underground part has to go.
And let's not forget an expected sea-level rise of close to 1 metre by the end of the century, increasing the likelihood of flooding in the local area. I wouldn't buy real-estate there now, I think it's going to devalue when sea level rise (and the associated increased risk of flooding) starts to bite.
yay material conditions bringing about social policies. next up dictatorship of the proletariat to stop these capitalist concessions wooooh!
Come on NSW!! Been paying $50 / week
That's cheaper than a weeks worth in my car.
If only if it was possible to catch public transport to Tasmania from Victoria
Will Victoria price match?
See the 3rd comment.
Great stuff i hope Victoria do the same
In fairness QLD also has 50cent fairs which is great
VIC is free 31/3 to 30/4.
Hope it gets extended.
Great to hear!
Will SA follow?
Might be a fun outing to go as far as I can on buses in a Day. 🤔
With the thinking that the Buses will be going to those places whether I'm on them or not.
All 6 buses ? / s is there a more car brained state then Tassie ?
Outback Australia?
Public transport SHOULD be free instead of the billions spent on new roads.
Public transport doesn't need any roads?
The Obahn and the trains would like to have a word with you
How many obahn and train routes does Tasmania have?
Do you also think it's possible to build that infrastructure without nearby roads?
If rapid, efficient, free and clean buses crisscrossed our urban areas we would certainly need less lanes and maintenance. Cars with one occupant are a stunningly inefficient use of resources and uniquely excellent at destroying the extremely expensive infrastructure built for them.
less lanes and maintenance.
Less maintenance?
uniquely excellent at destroying the extremely expensive infrastructure built for them.
No they aren't.
Cars are much more gentle on roads than big heavy busses. How often do you see a pothole on a suburb side street compared to a main road?
Road wear is driven by the "fourth power rule," meaning doubling axle weight increases damage by 16 times.
So while passenger cars cause minor wear, heavy vehicles are primarily responsible for road cracking, rutting, and pothole formation.
Thanks to Iran war?
No, thanks to Trump.
Also hugh effort from Iran side
Good move but wouldn't this put pressure back on the tax payers in years to come? What do we know and what have we learnt from the recent pandemic?
Great initiative.
Is there an overall map of public transport in Tasmania?
Generally whenever we've gone we've rented a car, but it'd be good to know what overall areas are serviced by PT.
https://metrotas.com.au/timetables/
Renting a car is still the best way. Especially with a lot of bus routes being cut due to staffing and bogan related issues.
WA should follows, more people taking public transport, less trafic jams, less fuels usage, best for everyone!!!
![[TAS] Free Public Transport from 30 Mar 2026 to 30 Jun 2027 @ Tasmanian Government](https://files.ozbargain.com.au/n/80/953780.jpg?h=9c701a3e)
Someone didn't learn their states and territories at school.