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Greens' $8 billion scheme for 50 cent fares across Australia comes with costing questions

The Greens have proposed an $8 billion scheme to implement 50-cent public transport fares across Australia, aiming to reduce living costs and encourage public transport use. This initiative, however, has raised several questions regarding its funding and economic implications. The plan would require significant federal funding, with the Greens suggesting that the money could come from reallocating funds from other areas like tax cuts for the wealthy or fossil fuel subsidies. Critics, including the federal government, argue that the proposal lacks detailed costings and could lead to increased financial burdens on states, potentially necessitating service cuts or increased taxes. Additionally, there are concerns about the operational feasibility of such a uniform fare system given the varied public transport infrastructures across different states. The debate highlights the tension between environmental and social policy goals and the practicalities of funding and implementing such broad policy changes.

Read the Full WAtoday Article at:
[ https://www.watoday.com.au/politics/federal/greens-8-billion-scheme-for-50-cent-fares-across-australia-comes-with-costing-questions-20250130-p5l892.html ]