Victorians get free public transport for a month in bid to ease surge in fuel demand

The Allan government in Victoria is making all public transport—metro and regional V/Line trams, trains, and buses—free for one month starting March 31 through the end of April. The measure is designed to encourage commuters to shift away from private vehicles and reduce fuel demand amid soaring petrol prices triggered by Middle East conflict-related energy shocks. By temporarily removing transit fares, the state government aims to ease pressure on fuel consumption during a period of acute energy price volatility. The initiative is explicitly framed as temporary, suggesting the government expects fuel prices to stabilize or demand pressures to ease within the month. The policy targets both metro users in Melbourne and regional commuters who rely on V/Line services.