In a historic decision that may revolutionise Australians’ travel habits, Victoria has unveiled a bold free public transport program for young and old. Not only does this groundbreaking policy alleviate cost-of-living stresses, but it also has the potential to reinvigorate regional tourism and redefine transport affordability throughout the state. As we examine this historic program more closely, it’s interesting to consider how programs like this could shape the future of public transportation around the world.
A New Youth Mobility Vision
From next year, all Victorians aged under 18 will be able to receive free travel on public transport throughout the entire state. The Program is extensive and encompasses trains, trams, buses, and metropolitan Melbourne as well as regional Melbourne coach services. It will be provided in the form of a newly developed youth Myki card that will be able to function in both Myki and non-Myki zones.
This means unprecedented freedom of movement for young Victorians to move around their state at no expense. Whether commuting to school, socialising with friends in neighbouring towns, or heading out on weekends to Victoria’s beautiful coastal regions and national parks, the entire public transport network is on offer, free of charge.
The Victorian government frames this policy as an equalizer—a way of making it possible for all young people to access transport every day, anywhere in Victoria, regardless of income. For others who are struggling with rising costs of living, this is a huge cost benefit, having the potential to save thousands of dollars annually on transport fares.
Seniors Gaining Greater Freedom
Although the youth scheme kicks off next year, seniors have not been forgotten. Free weekend travel throughout the state will be included from 1 January 2026, as part of Victoria’s current seniors’ transport concessions. That is an exponential expansion from the current system that provides only free weekend travel within specific zones.
To be qualified, passengers have to possess a Victorian Seniors Card and have to produce both the aforementioned card and the Seniors Myki card during travel. On weekdays, the existing concession rate of 50 per cent continues to apply.
This reduction will save seniors over $360 a year, giving fixed-income retirees a substantial reduction in living expenses.More importantly, it gives older Victorians greater mobility and independence, allowing them to stay in touch with family and friends, and to access services, without the price of transport being a barrier.
Economic Impact and Tourism Boost
These projects cost a lot of money—the youth travel program alone will cost $318 million in four years. But the government hopes to get a significant amount of economic benefit in the way of increased usage of public transport and, most notably, a boost to regional tourism.
By removing cost barriers to travel, such policies should encourage young people and older people to travel further afield from metropolitan Melbourne and to regional Victoria more frequently. This should provide desperately needed tourist dollars to traditionally harder-to-reach smaller communities without the need for private cars.
Regional town enterprises, such as cafes and restaurants, accommodation and tourism attractions, will benefit from increased tourists. For certain regional communities, still struggling with the long-term impacts of pandemic disruption, the increase might be a welcome injection of economic support.
Learning from Queensland’s Success
Victoria’s ambitious program does not occur in isolation. It duplicates the successful Queensland experience, where 50-cent fares were implemented across its entire public transport network following a six-month trial which commenced in August 2024.
Queensland’s results are staggering and serve as a good model for Victoria’s more ambitious program:
93.3 million journeys were taken during the trial period
$181 million saved by passengers
18.3 per cent increase in total public transport use compared to last year
20 per cent regional average increase in metropolitan public transport boardings across 16 metropolitan bus networks
These figures demonstrate how lowering the cost of public transport directly translates to higher rates of use and enormous economic returns for citizens. By eliminating fares for young people and in part for older people, Victoria is capable of seeing even more drastic increases in passenger numbers.
Environmental and Social Benefits
In addition to the economic advantages, free public transport initiatives provide significant environmental and social benefits. Every journey taken on public transport means one less car trip, reducing traffic flow, parking needs, and car emissions.
For a climate change-committed government, encouraging greater use of public transport is also very much in line with broader environmental goals. The policy basically removes economic barriers from the path that otherwise make families want to purchase and utilize cars, particularly in outer suburban and provincial areas where public transport has never had a strong alternative to private cars on price and convenience.
Socially, the programs are more socially oriented and socially engaged. The youth are more independent at a younger age, perhaps taking on more education, cultural, and recreational events. The elderly remain engaged with their communities and large families, reducing isolation typical of advancing age, particularly after the loss of driving privileges.
Implications for Families and Cost of Living
With more than one million children affected, the impact on household budgets cannot be exaggerated. For a multi-school-aged-children household, the savings could be in the range of thousands of dollars annually. In the era of rising living costs, such saving is considerable financial comfort.
The timing of this initiative is particularly pertinent given the economic pressures of the present day. By eliminating transport costs for children, families are freed to allocate that money elsewhere on required expenses or educational advancement. This is a double advantage: immediate fiscal convenience and increased access to educational and cultural enhancement activities that are otherwise foreclosed due to transport costs.
A Model for Other Regions?
Victoria’s model is provocative in the sense of wondering if equivalents could be introduced in other regions of Australia and elsewhere. While expensive at first, the Queensland experience also holds promise that the economic, social, and environmental benefits will be worth the expense.
Other states will surely be watching Victoria’s rollout closely. Success there may trigger a national conversation about transport accessibility and the government’s role in breaking down mobility barriers, particularly for youth and the elderly.
Worldwide, Victoria belongs to a growing list of regions that are piloting free or subsidised public transport. From Luxembourg’s nationwide free public transport to pilots in other cities across Europe, there’s a growing view that the fare-based model could be an inferior way to deliver the most social value from public transport.
Implementation Challenges
Despite the potential, there are impediments to rolling out the program. The Victorian public transport system will need coverage for the possible dramatic ridership spikes, particularly during travel peak periods and on busy regional routes.
Frequency of service, capacity of the vehicle, and infrastructure may have to be upgraded to accommodate growing demand without compromising on service quality. The success of the program will not only depend on eliminating fares but also on keeping the transport experience positive with increased usage.
Furthermore, effective communication about eligibility and proper utilization of youth and senior Myki cards will be crucial to prevent misinterpretation and ensure smooth implementation. School and senior centre educational campaigns are most likely to be needed in order to maximize program utilization.
Looking Ahead
As Victoria prepares to act upon these transformative steps, the possibilities are not just for changed transport statistics.We might be witnessing the start of a fundamental change in how we conceptualize public transport—shifting from a user-pay service to a public good service such as education.
In investment in the mobility of youth and the elderly, Victoria is also taking a statement of values: that transportation can’t be dependent on economic standing, and that it’s a right, not a privilege, to be able to travel and access your community.
For tourists visiting Victoria, the changes provide an easier, cleaner way to do everything this fantastic state has to offer.For Victorians, they provide not just savings, but greater freedom and choice. And for policymakers globally, they provide a grand experiment in thinking about public transport in the 21st century.
As the program develops over the next few months, its journey will provide important insights into how dismantling the economic obstacles to mobility has the potential to reshape communities, economies, and lives. Victoria’s free transport revolution could serve as a template for progressive transport policy globally.
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