Tasmania has become Australia's first region to introduce free public transport as a national debate continues over rising fuel prices and cost of living.
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All public bus travel across the island state will be free for five weeks from Monday.
The state Liberal government said it was making the move to ease costs on households and encourage commuters to switch from using their cars.
"While higher fuel prices are due to global fuel market uncertainty, we understand the impact it is causing on cost of living pressures," Infrastructure and Transport Minister Michael Ferguson said in a statement.
"At this point, we see a temporary, highly attractive measure such as free bus travel as one option the Tasmanian government can activate to ease cost of living pressures."
An adult travelling on a Metro Urban Zone 1 trip will save $5.60 a day.
Travellers from Sorell to Hobart can save $15.20 on a return trip, travellers from Westbury to Launceston will pocket a benefit worth $22.80, and Port Sorell to Devonport $27.80 for return trips.
Community services peak body TasCOSS welcomed the temporary relief but warned there needed to be a long-term strategy to reduce cost-of-living pressures.
Chief executive Adrienne Picone said Tasmanians living on low incomes had been hit particularly hard by higher petrol prices, especially those in rural and remote areas where public transport was limited.
"Free public transport in perpetuity could be funded, for example, by ending the subsidies to the cruel racing industry," Tasmanian Greens leader Cassy O'Connor said in a statement.
In Victoria, the state Greens are pushing for a similar move for at least a month, which the party estimates would cost about $75 million.
"That would make a significant impact towards reducing the cost of living, but also incentivising that shift away from expensive, polluting petrol vehicles," transport spokesman Sam Hibbins told reporters.
Opposition spokesman David Southwick said his side supported the idea for free transport from Monday to Friday.
"It'd be a great way to re-energise the city," he told reporters.
"We want people back, we want a smooth return back to the city and by doing free public transport on Monday to Friday, we believe that's a really good step in the right direction."
However, the Victorian government is not convinced, with Premier Daniel Andrews telling reporters he is "more focused on building a better public transport system".
In NSW, free public transport on Fridays has been part of an ongoing industrial argument between the Rail, Tram and Bus Union and the Liberal-National coalition government following February's network shutdown.
The government previously said it would give commuters free travel days as compensation but the perk did not eventuate.
Before South Australia's election at the weekend, the state's Greens renewed calls for free public transport in response to soaring petrol prices.
Before Saturday's poll, election-winner Labor pledged to extend free travel to pensioners at all times if elected.
Australian Associated Press
