But after a request by Public Transport Minister Ben Carroll,his department conducted its own evaluation which found the policy would cost twice as much.
The Department of Transport advice,whichThe Age has obtained,said the $2 fares would cost Victoria $2.6 billion over four years to 2027. This included compensation paid to Metro Trains,Yarra Trams and Melbourne bus operators for their share of lost fare revenue.
But shadow treasurer David Davis cast doubt on the transport department’s costing,saying it was not surprising that “the Labor Government says the Liberal policies don’t add up”.
“The fact is,our $2 flat fare public transport policy has been costed by the independent Parliamentary Budget Office and will provide a reward to hard-working families that only the Liberals and Nationals will deliver,” he said in a statement.
He did not provide the PBO’s costings or explain why the office had not published its estimate online,as it has for many othermajor election policies.
The PBO did not respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.