The Brumby Government, in conjunction with V/Line, Connex, Yarra Trams and the bus industry, will provide free travel to individuals
The Brumby Government, in conjunction with V/Line, Connex, Yarra Trams and the bus industry, will provide free travel to individuals and families who have lost their homes in the recent bushfires.
Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky says free travel would be available to all eligible people until October 1, 2009 on all public transport services in Victoria, including metropolitan, V/Line and bus services within regional cities.
“Communities across Victoria have been devastated by more than 400 bushfires that have swept across the state. This offer allows people to use their local public transport services or catch V/Line services to and from Melbourne to visit loved ones in hospital or attend appointments,” she says.
Kosky says the Brumby Government will meet the cost of free travel on bus services across Victoria and V/Line, Connex and Yarra Trams would not seek compensation for ticket sales.
Free public transport will be provided to individuals and families who have lost their homes and have received one of the following grants from the Department of Human Services (DHS):
- Emergency grant;
- Temporary living grant; and
- Re-establishment grant.
Individual passes will be issued to all residents including children of the property that has been lost in the bushfires.
Information on how to apply for the grants is available from the DHS website: www.dhs.vic.gov.au/emergency/current-events/bushfire/financial-assistance
Once someone has received any DHS grant they should contact Metlink on 131 638 so that arrangements can be made for a free travel pass to be issued.
People can organise to have their passes mailed to relatives’ homes, their local post office, temporary accommodation, nearest staffed V/Line station or V/Line ticket agents.
The pass can also be issued on the spot at the Central Pass Office at Southern Cross Station.