Hip-pocket hit on drivers, commuters
Perth motorists and commuters were hit in today's State Budget, with increases in car registration fees, city parking and bus, train and ferry fares.
Car registration fees will jump 3 per cent in 2014-15 and the private vehicle concession will be removed.
The removal of this $36 concession will raise $189 million.
Budget papers justified the removal of the concession by saying it was poorly targeted, being available for all vehicles used for non-business purposes, regardless of the value of the vehicle or how many kilometres travelled.
The papers said the WA car registration fee was still the second lowest of all Australian states and territories.
The Perth Parking levy will be increased by $365 (or about $1 a day) over the next two years.
This is expected to raise $73 million.
The money raised will contribute to the funding of the Perth Busport, a key component of the Perth City Link Project.
It will also enable the replacement of the current CAT bus fleet to be brought forward by two years.
Train, bus and ferry fares will increase by about 4 per cent.
The fare for an adult travelling through two zones will increase from $4.20 to $4.40.
Day riders will increase from $11.60 to $12.10 and the student concession rate will jump from 50c to 60c.
