Victorian Government Secretly Raised Public Transport Fares to Fund Suburban Rail Loop
Source Summary
Victoria's auditor-general revealed that the state government imposed a levy on all public transport fares across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria since January 2025 to help fund the Suburban Rail Loop and other Big Build projects. The auditor-general's report, tabled in parliament on Wednesday, also questioned whether the first stage of the project—a 26km stretch of twin tunnels from Cheltenham to Box Hill called SRL East—can be delivered on time or within budget.
Why it matters
The auditor-general's disclosure reveals that the government funded a major infrastructure project through undisclosed fare increases, raising questions about fiscal transparency and public accountability.
What remains uncertain
The auditor-general questioned whether SRL East can be delivered on time or within budget, but the report does not specify the nature or extent of the delivery risks.
