Free public transport on Sundays and for students travelling to school will become permanent in Western Australia, as the state government moves to lock in long-term cost-of-living relief measures.
The Cook government confirmed the change as part of its 2026–27 State Budget, committing more than $70 million to continue the initiatives.
The decision follows strong uptake since both measures were introduced in 2024, with millions of passengers already using the network under the discounted and free fare schemes.
Premier Roger Cook says the measures are designed to provide ongoing support for households.
“My government’s State Budget 2026-27 is about delivering real cost-of-living support for Western Australians,” he says.
“Our responsible budget management and focus on maintaining Western Australia’s status as the strongest economy in the nation means we can make cost-of-living measures, such as free Sunday travel, permanent.”
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The Ride to School Free Program applies to students using SmartRider cards, with around 300,000 students currently holding eligible cards. Households with two children who commute daily by public transport can save up to $560 over the school year.
Free Sunday travel has also seen strong demand, with more than eight million passenger trips recorded under the initiative to date.
The announcement comes as public transport patronage in Western Australia continues to rise. Figures released alongside the announcement show nearly 15.7 million boardings across bus, train and ferry services in March, setting a new monthly record and surpassing the previous high set in 2012 by almost 1.5 million trips. This represents a 14 per cent increase compared to the same month last year.
WA Treasurer and transport minister Rita Saffioti says the measures are helping make public transport more accessible.
“Accessible and affordable public transport is an important way the Cook government is keeping costs down for Western Australian families during these globally uncertain times,” Saffioti says.
“That’s why we’re locking in these successful free public transport initiatives for the long-term so thousands more Western Australians can travel across the network for free every week.”
The broader fare structure has also been adjusted in recent years, including the introduction of the Go Anywhere fare, which allows passengers to travel across the network at a capped rate.
Passengers using SmartRider with Autoload can travel for as little as $2.80 per trip, while credit or debit card users pay $3.50.
Regional services have also been included, with Transwa train and coach fares permanently halved across more than 200 destinations.
These changes have contributed to increased regional patronage, with overall usage rising by 21 per cent in March compared to the same period last year.
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