<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Western Australian government has announced that card and contactless payments will be available on public transport in a matter of weeks.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Passengers will be able to tap on and off with their physical or contactless debit and credit cards in Perth, Bunbury, Busselton, Kalgoorlie, Esperance and Albany from December 8.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The rollout will then be extended to passengers in Geraldton, Karratha and Port Hedland before the end of the year.</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>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/pfas-senate-inquiry-final-report-calls-to-ban-forever-chemical/f8f20b62-ef9d-48b4-a4dc-863594ef32c8" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>'Asbestos of the 21st century': Calls to ban chemical Aussies are exposed to every day</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said this was the biggest change to public transport since the introduction of SmartRider 18 years ago. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The start of new payment options represents one of the biggest and most important changes we've ever delivered on public transport in Western Australia," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This will give people another option, as most people will have their card or phone at their fingertips, making it so much easier to jump on a bus, train or ferry when you need to."</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/perth-public-transport-passengers-to-tap-on-with-card-and-contactless-payments/1199ea25-def5-442b-a1f5-4ae9532f3019" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Passengers using the new payment options will be charged at the current Transperth cash rate, which reaches a maximum of $5.20 for a single journey anywhere on the network.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The maximum cash rate will be lowered to a maximum of $3.50 for a single journey from January 1. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Anyone using cards or contactless payment will be able to access free travel on Sundays and avoid surcharges as the state absorbs the cost.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/australia-sanctions-russian-cybercrime-network-provider/66473a90-0083-4a68-a315-ea6385801d44" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Australia imposes sanctions on Russian cyber firms over ransomware attacks</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Concession rates will not be available for contactless payments, but are still available on the Smartrider travel cards.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The new payment options will function similarly to card and contactless payments in other states and territories. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The same card or device must be used to tap on and off in each journey, and fares will be displayed as a single amount at the end of the day once all the trips are calculated.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Western Australia will now look at phasing out cash payments on public transport.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Melbourne is the last remaining capital city in Australia not to have card and contactless payments on its public transport.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Canberra and Hobart all have tap-and-go measures, while Darwin offers free buses, and passengers do not need a card or ticket.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Melbourne is set to join the rest of the country with a phased rollout starting in early 2026.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span></span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple App Store</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><strong><em><span>.</span></em></strong></div></div>