Victoria secretly raised fares for SRL
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Victoria's auditor general revealed a secret 1% fare levy funding SRL. Commuters paid extra without public announcement since January 2025.
Background
The Victorian government has been funding the Suburban Rail Loop (SRL), a massive infrastructure project, partly through a levy on public transport fares. The auditor general's report, tabled in parliament, revealed that this levy was not publicly acknowledged in communications about fare increases, raising concerns about transparency and the project's budget.
How it unfolded
- Aug 2021The levy was approved when Ben Carroll was public transport minister.
- Jan 2025The levy on all public transport fares in metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria came into effect.
- Aug 25, 2026Premier Ben Carroll announced $2 billion worth of savings on the SRL project.
- Aug 26, 2026The auditor general's report was tabled in parliament, revealing the secret levy and warning that SRL East is likely to be delivered late and over budget.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Treasurer Colin Brooks denied the levy was going directly to the SRL project.
- Auditor General
- The report questions whether SRL East can be delivered on time or within budget.
- Public
- Opposition spokesperson Wilson called it the 'final nail in the coffin' for the government.
Still unverified
The exact amount raised so far ($6.5 million) and the total projected revenue ($4.8 billion NPV) are from the auditor general's report, but the government's denial of direct funding is disputed.