According to the Australian Automobile Association’s latest Transport Affordability Index, it now costs the average Perth family $372 a week to move around our city – almost 14 per cent of the household income.
The index revealed the cost of fuel increased by $9.40 a week in Perth and $12 a week in Bunbury, which was once again the most expensive regional city of those analysed in the national report.
While overall transport costs remained high, public transport spending decreased by $18 a week, attributed to the WA Government’s two-zone cap on public transport fares which commenced in January 2022.
RAC General Manager External Relations Will Golsby welcomed the drop in public transport costs but highlighted the need for further measures in next week’s state budget to ease the cost of living.
“Transport continues to be a major household expense, with ongoing fee increases a big factor in the high cost of living within our State,” Mr Golsby said.
“We strongly welcomed the WA Government’s two-zone cap on public transport fares, which provides a fairer system for commuters who live further from the CBD,” Mr Golsby said.
“However further action is now needed to ease the pressure on WA motorists, who have been hit with hike after hike to vehicle fees and charges over the past decade – increases far above the rate of inflation."
“In 2020, the WA Government froze motor vehicle related fees as part of its pandemic measures – proving it can be done. However, we have since returned to the types of excessive increases implemented by successive governments."
“We’re calling on the WA Government to use next week’s Budget to introduce a three-year freeze on registration fees and public transport fares to help address the high cost of transport in our State and ease the pressure on household budgets.”
“The State Budget represents an opportunity for our leaders to take action and improve transport affordability for all Western Australians.”
