School students in Western Australia have been fined more than $821,000 for failing to tag on and off public transport, despite travel being free under the state's Ride to School Free Program. Data released in parliament shows 8,214 fines of $100 each have been issued since the program's introduction in 2024.
The opposition argues students are being unfairly penalized. Opposition transport spokesman Steve Martin noted that fines surged from 1,350 in June 2024 to 8,214 less than two years later, calling on Transport Minister Rita Saffioti to explain safeguards against unfair penalties.
Transport Minister Rita Saffioti defended the fines, stating that tagging on and off with a Student SmartRider card is critical for monitoring service usage and planning capacity. She said fines represent just 0.05% of total student journeys and that a targeted communication strategy is underway to educate students.
The program, which saves families about $560 per year, allows free travel to and from school for students with a valid SmartRider. However, failure to tag on and off results in a $100 fine, raising concerns amid a cost-of-living crisis.
