Free public transport would make Canberra a cleaner, safer, and more connected city. “It’s a win for everyone,” says Belco Party candidate for Ginninderra Angela Lount.

“In 2001, the ACT Liberal Government considered implementing free public transport, estimated to cost approximately $30 million per year. In 2024 the Belco Party believes this vision is more relevant than ever, given current transport realities and the cost-of- living crisis,” she said.

“The current revenue from public transport fares amounts to around $25 million per year, even less than the figure estimated in 2001 and a small fraction of operating costs. With fare collections stagnant for two decades, there is an opportunity to rethink how Canberra manages its public transport system.

“One of the strongest arguments for free public transport is the significant cost of operating the ticketing and fare system itself.
Currently the fare system has considerable overhead, which is not fully justified when so many passengers – students, seniors, and
other exempt groups – already ride for free.

“The logic is clear, if we’re already exempting large portions of the population from paying fares, and the cost of operating the system is high, why not eliminate fares altogether? We could simplify the system and redirect resources more efficiently.

“By removing fares, the operational costs could be significantly reduced by removing the cost of the ticketing system. This would make free public transport a financially sound choice”.