Bus travel in Tasmania will be free for more than a month to help drivers contend with skyrocketing fuel prices.
Bowser prices across the country are adding to cost-of-living pressures, with the fuel price in central Hobart alone now toping 227.9 cents per litre.
The state government, which already heavily subsidises Metro and other services, will foot the bill for fares for five weeks, starting next Monday.
Fares will be free across all operators, school buses and general access buses — and across all fare types.
An adult travelling inside one zone from Hobart's north into the CBD and back will save $5.60.
The measure will also include all of the government's publicly subsidised private services.
Transport Minister Michael Ferguson said there were two reasons for the initiative.
"We want to help families with the cost of living with high fuel prices, but as well we see this as a great opportunity to give people the encouragement to give our buses a try," he said.
"At the end of the incentive, we hope and expect that many people would have fallen in love with public transport, found it is user friendly for them.
"It is something the government can do. We are not able to solve the high petrol price, that's a global phenomenon which is occurring as a direct result of what is going on in Europe at the moment."
Mr Ferguson said that the public stayed away from buses during the pandemic but he "encouraged people to reassess that".
It was also hoped the measure would also ease traffic congestion.
The free travel, which will cost the taxpayer about $2 million, will begin next Monday and run until the end of April.
The government already gives $100 million a year to public and private transport providers with general access.
Schedules to remain the same
Metro chief Katie Cooper said high fuel prices had not yet resulted in more bus use but she expected that to change with the free fares.
Normal bus schedules will remain for the time being.
"We are quite confident people will come on board so we do ask for people's patience as that happens," she said.
Metro is running at 80 per cent of the pre-COVID patronage.
Grants for service delivery providers
The government has also announced grants of up to $2,000 will be available to the community sector, after concerns the fuel price hikes are affecting service delivery.
Minister for Community Services and Development Nic Street said the $100,000 community services relief package will be available as one-off grants.
Service providers hoping to secure a grant must apply to the Department of Communities Tasmania.
Long-term measures needed
Adrienne Picone, chief exceutive of the Tasmanian Council of Social Service, said that although free public transport was welcome, many Tasmanians would be unable to access it.
She said the five-week solutions must be accompanied by long-term strategies to cut the cost of living.
"Affording the essentials has become increasingly more difficult over the past year, with the cost of housing, health, transport, education and recreational activities, all rising by more than general wage increases," Ms Picone said.
She called on the Federal government to step in and provide a "meaningful boost" to income support.
"The rate of JobSeeker and Commonwealth Rent Assistance is meagre and trapping Tasmanians in a cost-of-living death spiral."
Fuel costs already taking a chunk out of food relief
Loaves and Fishes Tasmania collects surplus food from farmers and other producers and delivers it to over 300 agencies across the state — such as community houses — to be given to those in need.
Chief executive Andrew Hillier told the ABC they have made the difficult decision to reduce the frequency of some of their deliveries because the rocketing cost of fuel was biting hard into their lean budget.
He said their monthly fuel bill would be increased by about $4,000 based on the current price of about $2.30 per litre.
"We don't know how long that will go on for, but given our budget is very limited and we're running really on a knife-edge as an organisation, we run a pretty lean ship and we needed to arrest some costs fairly promptly ... so reluctantly we've had to reduce [the frequency of] our deliveries to the north-east and the west coast."
Mr Hillier said this was to allow them to continue to provide "some services rather than nothing".
The organisation receives half its funding from the State government through the food relief strategy, with the remainder coming from donations.
Mr Hillier said they would be applying for one of the one-off grants but hoped the government would commit to consistent funding for the current 'Food Relief to Food Resilience' food security strategy, which runs until 2024.
'Make it permanent'
Tasmanians were quick to respond to the move on ABC Hobart's Facebook page.
"That's great. All states should follow Tasmania," posted Simone Mcc.
"It's a good assistance, however for many people who do service deliveries to homes, such as in aged care sector, it does not alleviate the substantial costs of petrol," said Lisa Flack.
Jamie Edgar wants free buses to stay.
Some were concerned about service reliability.
"Problem is at the moment Metro doesn't have enough drivers and is cancelling services all over the place. Just check their Facebook page," posted Meegan Pearce.
"Unless they also increase the amount of buses then this will be pointless," said Rebekah Barker.
