The letter urges immediate action to provide free travel on buses, trains, and ferries, particularly in response to the ongoing fuel crisis. It argues that access to transport is essential to ensure young people can continue attending school and tertiary education.
Impact of the fuel crisis on families
The push for free fares is closely tied to rising fuel costs, which have significantly increased transport expenses for families. Petrol prices have exceeded $4 per litre in some areas, placing pressure on households already facing financial strain.
According to the open letter, these rising costs are making it harder for some families to afford daily travel to school. This is particularly affecting students who rely on public transport or cannot be driven by caregivers due to cost constraints.
Concerns about school attendance
The letter highlights concerns that transport affordability is already impacting school attendance. It cites reports that some schools are seeing early signs of declining attendance linked to the inability of families to cover transport costs.
Ensuring students can physically get to school is framed as critical, especially after previous disruptions to learning. The letter stresses that maintaining access to education requires practical solutions, not just policy commitments.
Rural communities face additional challenges
Rural communities are identified as being particularly vulnerable. Many rural students have limited or no access to alternative transport options, and some school bus routes have been reduced or removed following earlier reviews.
The open letter calls for restoration of cancelled routes, changes to eligibility thresholds for school transport, and guaranteed funding to ensure services continue operating despite rising fuel costs.
Proposed government actions
Several specific actions are outlined in the letter. These include reinstating free fares for school-aged children, restoring discounted or free transport for tertiary students, and reviewing rural transport policies.
There is also a call to classify school transport as an essential service and to ensure it is prioritised during any fuel rationing measures.
Framing transport as an education issue
The central argument of the open letter is that transport is directly linked to educational access. It emphasises that education cannot be considered equitable if students cannot physically reach schools or campuses.
The proposal positions free public transport as a practical and immediate way to support students during the current crisis, while also suggesting it could form part of a longer-term policy approach.
