International students to receive public transport ticket concessions from Victorian Government
PUBLIC transport concessions will be made available to international students from 2015, under a new scheme introduced by the Victorian Government. Diane Leow reports.
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The Victorian government announced today that international students in Victoria will receive a 50 per cent discount on annual tickets for public transport from 2015 under a new public transport scheme.
The scheme will be trialled for three years, and will be made available to international students enrolled in and studying either a full-time undergraduate course or a higher VET course with education providers who have opted into the scheme.
Thus far, the University of Melbourne and Monash University has confirmed its participation.
Related story: Public transport concessions for international students: When Victoria, when?
Students who choose to take part in the scheme will be issued with a myki, which is an electronic pass system incorporated across Victoria’s trains, trams, and buses.
The discounted myki passes will then be valid for a period of 365 days after activation and will include all metropolitan travel areas, as well as within regional areas. Discounted tickets will not be transferable.
Currently, a 365-day full-fare myki pass for travel within Zone 1 costs $1430, a 365-day full-fare myki pass for travel within Zone 2 costs $949, and a 365-day full-fare myki pass for travel within Zone 1 + 2 costs $2210.
Related story: Public transport concessions: Where is Victoria headed?
Under the scheme, international students can save up to $1105 on public transport annually.
Victoria is the last state in Australia that does not offer public transport concessions for international students.
The introduction of this scheme comes after years of lobbying by student groups and local councils to introduce public transport concessions for international students. Local students have also weighed in on the issue, saying “it’s only fair” for international students to have access to concession prices for public transport as well.