Campaign costs west bus grid at $190 million

Labor has committed to a two-year $30 weekly cap on public transport and toll roads from 1 January 2027, but the Better Buses for the West campaign says cheaper fares will do little for people without reliable services.

Sustainable Cities and Friends of the Earth Melbourne issued the response. The group welcomed affordable fares, but raised concerns about service access in Melbourne’s west.

Fares in 2026 are already at half price. Meanwhile, the campaign fears the equity gap between the western suburbs and the rest of Melbourne will continue to widen.

Jaksha Shah, a Mt Atkinson resident, said: “Labor’s announcement asked us to picture a family where two children get the bus to school, but the reality for many families who live in the West is that the bus is not yet a practical option that will get us where we need to go on time”.

Shah said cheaper fares alone did not make a huge difference to her family or many others in the community because most were forced to drive, while high fuel prices added to financial stress during the cost of living crisis.

Ben Carroll’s 2021 bus plan

Elyse Cunningham, a Better Buses campaigner, said buses were an essential service that the government was currently failing to provide to communities.

She said Labor should deliver on Ben Carroll’s 2021 Bus Plan by committing to a fast, frequent, connected grid network for the western suburbs.

The Better Buses proposal is costed at an additional $190 million for the first year of operations. According to the campaign, the grid would use direct buses running along major roads to connect residents and visitors in Melbourne’s west with essential services and major destinations.

The campaign says bus network reform would make the west’s public transport network fit for purpose. It says that would help residents access major projects including a new station at Mt Atkinson, Melbourne Airport Rail and the electrification of the Melton line.

Better Buses is a campaign run by Sustainable Cities, a Friends of the Earth collective.