The Greens have called for the establishment of an Australian Student Card to grant all students - undergraduate, postgraduate, domestic and international - concession rates for public transport across the nation.
"Victoria currently provides the least access to public transport concessions for students " said Josh Fergeus, Greens Candidate for Chisholm. "Unlike other states, Victorian postgraduate and international students receive no concession at all."
At present, aside from not recognising concession cards from other states or territories, New South Wales and Victoria also deny concession rates their own postgraduate and international students – who are more often than not, students that need assistance the most. For example, postgraduate students undertaking research are frequently required to undertake extensive travel to conduct research activities. And, for a number of reasons, international students are often compelled to live further away from their educational institution than their domestic counterparts, thus facing substantial public transport costs on a daily or at least regular basis.
"A nationally consistent student concession card would not only be a more equitable approach in support all students in their tertiary studies, but it would also reflect the realities that a student’s need for concession prices does not stop at state borders." said Mr. Fergeus.
"The Greens will work to ensure that all tertiary students should have access to concession travel on public transport, regardless of their location, residency status or type of enrolment."