Steve Price slams Jacinta Allan and Jaclyn Symes over $318M free public transport plan for under-18s ahead of state budget

Sky News AU

19-05-2025

A key feature of Treasurer Jaclyn Symes' first budget - offering free public transport for all Victorian children - is expected to cost taxpayers over $300 million, despite concerns that many children already avoid paying fares.
The Allan Labor Government announced on Sunday the measure in the 2025/26 budget would apply to everyone under 18 statewide.
The state government predicts the cost of living policy will save Victorian families hundreds of dollars a year per child, omitting the need for a $755 yearly student pass.
The system will cover all modes of public transportation, including trams, trains, buses, and coaches.
However, Sky News host Steve Price has flagged concerns with the move, pointing to the state's rising debt and the fact many kids already ride for free by not tapping on.
'Someone ought to tell Jacinta Allan and Jaclyn Symes that kids don't pay to ride on public transport anyway," Mr Price said on Sky News.
'I catch trams and trains around all the time, and none of these kids pay.
"They don't tap their Myki on. They just get on the tram and get off at the other end. They wouldn't give a rat's a** whether it was free or not because they don't pay now."
The youth Myki scheme is expected to cost taxpayers $318 million over four years.
The cost-of-living policy will be the cornerstone of Treasurer Jaclyn Symes' first budget on Tuesday, which will also include free weekend transport for seniors.
The additional public transport scheme is expected to save seniors more than $360 per year.
Currently, seniors can travel for free within nearby zones, allowing them access to neighbouring areas for free, but the new initiative will extend to cover the entire state.
It is expected to cost $2.2 million over four years.
The Victorian Treasurer admitted the state will record a surplus that is $1 billion smaller than forecast last year, attributing this to the exclusion of additional taxes.
'We could have elected to have a larger surplus for tomorrow's budget. But what we did is choose to back Victorians,' Ms Symes told reporters on Monday.
'We know that cost of living, frontline services, these are the priorities that Victorians expect a Labor government to get behind.
'So we are investing in health, mental health, education, transport, all of the things that Victorians want.
'We are also offering practical cost-of-living measures, as well as delivering a surplus, which is what we promised to do in 2020.'
Price highlighted the alarming rise in Victoria's debt over the past decade, noting: 'Ten years ago, the Victorian government debt in 2014–15 was $22.3 billion. As of 2024–25, or 2025–26, it's going to be $168.5 billion.'
However, on Monday Treasurer Jaclyn Symes pointed to the budgets cost-of-living relief measures, downplaying concerns about debt levels when asked whether debt would reach $200 billion.
'The (net debt) aggregates will be revealed tomorrow. They will not start with a two,' she said.