To help ease cost of living pressures in the ACT, including fuel prices, the Canberra Liberals are calling on the Labor-Greens Government to make bus travel free for six weeks.

Shadow Minister for Transport Mark Parton said while last week’s Federal Budget measure on fuel excise will go a long way in alleviating current financial pressures on Canberrans, fuel prices could still remain above levels seen just a few months ago.

“Those most affected by rising fuel prices are Canberrans already experiencing cost of living pressures, in particular low income earners,” Mr Parton said.

“There is no doubt under this Labor-Greens Government many Canberrans are doing it tough, and this is one lever the government has at its disposal to help alleviate these pressures.”

Along with waiving bus fares for a period of six weeks, Mr Parton is also calling on the Labor-Greens Government to resume its normal timetable.

“The current interim timetable has led to lengthy delays for crowded buses with post lockdown patronage numbers increasing on public transport in the ACT,” Mr Parton said.

“It is ridiculous that the Labor-Greens Government is encouraging public transport as a partial solution to the looming light rail impacts on traffic flows while still operating on an interim bus timetable.

“We need to resume to pre COVID timetables as soon as possible and give Canberrans confidence when it comes to using public transport in the ACT,” Mr Parton concluded.