Opposition leader Basil Zempilas has called on the WA Labor government to extend free public transport to all seven days of the week, arguing that the current Sunday-only free fares scheme does not go far enough to ease cost-of-living pressures on Western Australians.
Speaking on Saturday, Zempilas said that making public transport free every day would provide meaningful relief to families struggling with rising expenses. He criticised the Cook government for what he described as a half-hearted approach to transport affordability.
Zempilas outlines vision for free fares
“Labor’s free Sunday scheme is a gimmick that doesn’t help the majority of workers who commute Monday to Friday,” Zempilas said. “We need a real solution that supports families every single day of the week.”
The Liberal leader proposed that the state government fund the initiative through existing budget surpluses and by cutting what he called wasteful spending on government bureaucracy. He argued that free public transport would reduce traffic congestion, lower emissions, and put money back into people’s pockets.
Government responds to criticism
A spokesperson for Transport Minister Rita Saffioti rejected Zempilas’s proposal, stating that the Sunday free fares trial had been successful in boosting weekend patronage and that extending it to weekdays would cost hundreds of millions of dollars annually without a clear funding source.
“The opposition has not explained how they would pay for this multibillion-dollar promise,” the spokesperson said. “Our focus remains on delivering reliable and affordable transport services, including the 50-cent fare cap introduced last year.”
The government has previously ruled out making public transport free on weekdays, citing the need to maintain investment in infrastructure and service improvements.
Community reaction mixed
Public transport users have expressed mixed views on the proposal. Some commuters welcomed the idea, saying it would significantly reduce their weekly expenses. Others raised concerns about potential overcrowding and the impact on service quality.
“Free buses and trains would be a game-changer for my family,” said Sarah Mitchell, a mother of two from Balcatta. “But I worry about them being too packed to get on during peak hours.”
The debate comes as the cost of living continues to dominate political discourse in Western Australia, with both major parties seeking to offer relief to voters ahead of the next state election.
