The Western Australian government has announced that it is doubling the Public Transport Authority’s (PTA) School Bus Services (SBS) allowance to provide further cost-of-living support for regional WA families.
Changes to the conveyance allowance come after the WA government recently announced its Fare Free Sunday initiative and Ride to School Free Program for eligible SmartRider card holders in Perth.
The increase was recommended in the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee’s Bus Fair report and will see the base rate increase from 25.24 to 55.6 cents per kilometre.
“Most regional families will have access to the PTA’s SBS, but we know in some cases that’s not possible, which is why the conveyance allowance is such an important measure,” WA transport minister Rita Saffioti says.
“This change represents the most significant increase in the conveyance allowance since 2002 and will make sure regional families that cannot use the SBS are appropriately compensated.”
The increased conveyance allowance is the latest recommended change from the Bus Fair report to be approved, with eligibility changes for the WA government’s Student Transport Policy framework among those recommendations.
Under the framework, a conveyance allowance is provided to parents to help with the cost of driving their children to and from school or, in some cases, to connect with a PTA-contracted school bus.
“Getting to and from school is a crucial part of having a fair education system and offering accessible public transport makes it easier for every student, no matter their circumstances,” WA education minister Tony Buti says.