• Cook Government provides free public transport from 24 December to 28 January
• Scheme will deliver cost-of-living relief, saving regular public transport passengers hundreds of dollars
• Initiative to encourage people to use public transport and support small business during summer

The Cook Labor Government is encouraging the community to leave the car at home and jump on the train and bus this summer, providing free public transport for SmartRider users.

The Summer of Free Public Transport will begin on Christmas Eve (24 December) and run until 28 January, with free public transport available to all Smart Rider users in metropolitan Perth and regional WA.

The $10.4 million initiative will encourage people to get out and support small business over the Christmas and New Year period, as well as providing cost-of-living relief.

For a family of four travelling into the city on a few occasions over the holidays, it could mean up to $100 in savings – both on public transport fare costs, or driving and parking.

Regular public transport passengers could also see savings of hundreds of dollars across the free travel period.

The new measures come on top of the successful two-zone fare cap – a key pillar of the Cook Government's cost-of-living support.

The scheme caps all public transport travel to two-zones, which is saving regular public transport users thousands of dollars every year.

SmartRider cards are readily available from a wide range of retail outlets and Transperth InfoCentres. Further details on where people can get SmartRider cards can be found on the Transperth website: https://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/smartrider/types-of-smartrider/standard-smartrider  

Comments attributed to Premier Roger Cook:

"We know rising interest rates mean families are doing it tough over the summer holidays – which can make it difficult to take the kids for a day out.

"Every little bit helps, and our Summer of Free Public Transport can mean savings of around $30 for a family day out in the city.

"Importantly, it will help to encourage Western Australians to get out and about over summer, supporting local businesses and local jobs.

"I encourage everyone to take advantage of this scheme, and enjoy the Summer of Free Public Transport."

Comments attributed to Transport Minister Rita Saffioti:

"We know at this time of year, many families choose to jump on public transport to get around, so this is one way we can provide some cost-of-living relief, while also encouraging people to get out and support small business.

"My message to people is to leave the car at home - jump on a bus or train - and make the most of the free public transport on offer this summer.

"Families travelling to and from the city could save around $30 or more for a single trip, while regular public transport users could see savings of hundreds of dollars.

"Our Government is doing everything it can to make travel cheaper for all Western Australians - whether that be our successful two-zone fare cap or our Regional Airfare Zone Cap scheme.

"Very soon, more Western Australians than ever before will be able to benefit from our two-zone fare cap and world class public transport network with a number of major METRONET projects reaching completion in the next 18 months."