Bryce Edwards: Why Labour is putting up public transport fares in an election year

Yesterday’s announcement by Finance Minister Grant Robertson that the Government will axe half-price fares for public transport in an election year certainly seems odd. The Labour Government’s drive to show it can match the National Party in fiscal conservative economic management means it has ditched one of its most popular and effective policies.

Robertson announced yesterday that the Government’s current transport initiatives to combat the cost of living crisis would be axed at the end of March. The current fuel excise tax discount of 25c a litre will be phased out in March, and the half-price fares will be gone on 31 March, with only Community Service card holders able to access the cheaper fares.