<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It was during a family trip to </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/queensland" rel="" target="_blank" title="Queensland"><span>Queensland</span></a><span> that teenager Oscar Perry realised he was paying too much for public transport.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The 16-year-old high school student, who lives on the NSW Central Coast, regularly takes the train to </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/sydney" rel="" target="_blank" title="Sydney"><span>Sydney</span></a><span> and around his local area.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>While holidaying in the sunshine state, </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/queenslands-50c-fares-made-permanent-by-state-government/935271bd-d101-414a-9dc0-2df234e378ba" rel="" target="_blank" title="Perry clocked the enviable 50c fare scheme"><span>Perry clocked the enviable 50c fare scheme</span></a><span>, which was made permanent last year, and asked himself a simple question: Why not trial cheaper fares in NSW too?</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>EXCLUSIVE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/british-expat-why-she-moved-back-to-australia-after-returning-to-england/75109d3d-f00d-416b-bbd3-fdae6d0ca001" rel="" target="_blank" title="Expat Annie decided to move back to Britain. She lasted just six months"><strong><span>Expat Annie decided to move back to Britain. She lasted just six months</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I realised how cheap it was and how many more people use public transport there," Perry told </span><a href="https://www.nine.com.au/" rel="" target="_blank" title="Nine.com.au."><span>Nine.com.au.</span></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Personally, I spend about $10 or more a week on public transport just going to and from work.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"If I take the train down to Sydney from Gosford, it'll be an extra $10 in total, $5 each way."</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/fifty-cent-fares-central-coast-teenager-oscar-petition-for-cheaper-public-transport/73bfd5c8-fe1e-4647-8a1b-e8afe3d82fdb" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A concession Opal card is capped at $25 per week for students.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Adult fares are even more expensive, costing up to $19.30 per day or a cap of $50 per week.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Under a 50c fare rule, you would need to take 50 return trips per week to spend $50.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>According to NSW Greens MP Kobi Shetty, </span><a href="https://www.kobishetty.org/50c_public_transport_fares_p" rel="" target="_blank" title="who is running her own petition for 50c fares"><span>who is running her own petition for 50c fares</span></a><span>, lowering the price would save full-time workers a $2160 per year.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Is it too expensive? It's more expensive than Queensland. It's more expensive than Paris or Berlin," Perry said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"And it could be more affordable."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/mount-pleasant-mining-giant-takes-hunter-valley-farmers-to-high-court/07717198-4e91-4b08-be56-779ca30d82d2" target="_blank"><strong><span>Wendy took on a local mine. Now she's at the High Court</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The debate around free public transport in NSW reached a fever pitch in mid-March, when the state government refused to follow in Victoria's footsteps in opening the gates or even offering even reduced fares.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>At the time, State Treasurer Daniel Mookhey claimed the government wanted to avoid an </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/free-public-transport-nsw-why-state-wont-follow-victoria-and-tasmania-in-fuel-crisis-measure/e5ea855d-3da3-4d94-a589-bb7dacf92955" rel="" target="" title="expensive knee-jerk reaction to the conflict in the Middle East."><span>expensive knee-jerk reaction to the conflict in the Middle East.</span></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Perry doesn't buy this excuse.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He started a petition on </span><a href="https://www.change.org/p/urge-the-minns-government-to-implement-50c-opal-fares" rel="" target="_blank" title="Change.org"><span>Change.org</span></a><span> to urge the Minns government to trial 50c fares on the Opal network.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Queensland has demonstrated what's possible," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The Minns government already has a template.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"With uncertainty around the price of fuel at the moment and the cost of car ownership increasing significantly, this feels like an opportunity for the NSW government to be forward-looking and make public transport very cheap or free for residents or visitors of NSW."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Queensland's cheap fares come at a </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/queensland-public-transport-fares-costing-taxpayers-300-million/93114ebe-3c55-4d10-8f2b-b00891a3faaf" rel="" target="_blank" title="$300 million blow to the budget each year"><span>$300 million blow to the budget each year</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The NSW government has made it clear it won't accept a similar financial loss – however Perry believes the money would "find its way back into the economy".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The movement has generated significant support, with over 1000 petition signatures and hundreds of followers on Instagram.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But Perry said the NSW government has not shown much interest in his campaign.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I have already contacted the state government, the response from John Graham felt very dismissive and scripted," Perry explained.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I am hopeful that as this movement gains momentum and support the government will be more engaged.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"There is a conversation to be had. And if there is enough support the government cannot ignore it."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>BUDGET 2026:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/federal-budget-2026-winners-losers-workers-first-home-buyers-property-investors-ndis/55ede4e3-2ea7-4315-93f9-0f08ca98d2b3" target="_blank"><strong><span>The Budget's winners and losers, from first home buyers to NDIS rorters</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>EXCLUSIVE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/mcdonalds-dan-murphys-development-cowes-phillip-island/4eb0323d-ad53-4edb-a757-f833c0d615fc" target="_blank" title="Residents of seaside Victorian town braced for Macca's battle"><strong><span>Residents of seaside Victorian town braced for Macca's battle</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Perry's concerns over the cost-of-living crisis in NSW and beyond are not isolated.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A 13-year-old Adelaide boy named Sebastian Muñoz-Najar has also created a petition calling on the government to </span><a href="https://www.change.org/p/i-m-13-i-ll-be-past-40-before-i-can-afford-a-house-australia-has-a-right-to-housing?source_location=search&amp;_gl=1*k35fod*_up*MQ..*_gs*MQ..&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjwnZfPBhAGEiwAzg-VzL9ZZ9hlNbriNN0f_QhGnhLJCMNdJzPlqq9hxa5gKCevUeDdcX6hgxoCWl4QAvD_BwE&amp;gbraid=0AAAAADsXAxEAv_VH1-Ala9qrWLVxUZB1c" rel="" target="_blank" title="urgently fix the housing crisis with reforms."><span>urgently fix the housing crisis with reforms.</span></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Muñoz-Najar did the math and realised, at the current rate of growth, the median home will cost $5.5 million by the time he his 40.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It seems Australia's youth are terrified about their future.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I am worried just considering recent trends with the rising house prices, rising cost of living and the salaries not increasing by a huge amount," Perry added.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Schemes like this can help residents lower costs and hopefully make NSW more affordable for everyone."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.nine.com.au/?rf=true" rel="" target="" title="Nine.com.au"><span>Nine.com.au</span></a><span> has contacted the NSW Minister for Transport John Graham for comment.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><strong><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>