18-05-2025
Victorian Allan government to deliver free public transport for children in $300 million budget promise
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has announced her government will make public transport free for all children under the age of 18 in a major state budget cash splash.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has announced her government will make public transport free for all children under the age of 18 from January 1.
Ms Allan has also promised that she will make public transport free on weekends for seniors.
The announcement comes as part of the 2025-26 Victorian State Budget and has been projected to cost about $318 million over four years.
Despite the big cash splash, Ms Allan insisted the budget will remain financially disciplined.
The full budget will be handed down on Tuesday, May 20. — Jacinta Allan (@JacintaAllanMP) May 17, 2025
Ms Allan unveiled the free transport policy on Sunday, describing it as a significant step in easing financial pressures on families with multiple children.
'Free public transport for every child, every day, everywhere. Families are doing it tough and I'm on their side,' Ms Allan said in a statement.
'Labor will cut public transport prices. Liberals will cut public transport projects.'
The cost of a yearly student travel pass is currently $755 but those children will now travel for free on a new youth "myki" card.
The new youth myki can be used like any other myki, to tap on and travel through ticket gates at stations and when getting on a bus or tram.
The free transport initiative will apply across all metropolitan trains, trams, and buses, as well as regional V-Line services.
More than one million young Victorians and their families stand to benefit from the new youth myki when it rolls out from January 1, 2026.
'This will save so many struggling families thousands of dollars a year,' Victorian Transport Minister Lizzie Blandthorn said on Sunday.
