“A lack of local employment opportunities means its residents are forced to commute into the CBDs,” Mr Eslake said.

In response, Mr Hibbins said: “I think in this instance, even if it can reduce someone’s need to use their car, even if it doesn’t eliminate it fully, that will still have benefits.”

The Greens – hoping the government will seize the opportunity to push people away from car dependency – also want a $5000 rebate for people who get rid of their old petrol cars and instead use public transport, an electric vehicle or e-bike, as part of a longer-term plan.

Transport Infrastructure Minister Jacinta Allan would not be drawn on the measures being considered by the government.

“We’re looking at these issues very closely,” Ms Allan said.

A Victorian government spokesman said household budgets had been kept afloat through government support over the past two years. “We will continue to examine what further support we can provide,” he said.

To offset the cost of travel in Victoria and revive the struggling tourism and entertainment sectors, the government’s travel voucher scheme will reopen to applications online from 2pm on Wednesday.

There will be 140,000 rebates of $200 available on a first come, first served basis for people who stay at least two nights in paid accommodation and spend $400 on the trip between April 8 and May 27.

Public transport fares were frozen in Victoria in 2021 because of the pandemic, and increases were below inflation this year – rising 2.3 per cent for the city and 1.1 per cent in the regions. The government also temporarily reduced fares at off-peak travel times to minimise crowds earlier in the pandemic.

Dr Jonathan Spear, chief executive of independent advisers Infrastructure Victoria, said there was room to cut the ticket-price of fares for some underused public transport services.

But he said making all travel free would mostly benefit high earners, who made up the largest group of public transport users during peak periods before the pandemic. People on low incomes were more likely to use the underused bus network and travel at off-peak times.

“Infrastructure Victoria does not consider free travel either fair or efficient,” Dr Spear said.

Loading

Mr Morrison has signalled next Tuesday’s budget will include measures to ease the cost of living, but said cutting the fuel excise would not return petrol prices to their usual retail price anyway. The excise, a 44 cent tax on every litre of petrol or diesel, will raise $19.2 billion in revenue this financial year to help build infrastructure.

On Monday, The Age revealed Melbourne’s public transport network experienced its sharpest increase in activity since 2020 on Thursday last week. Usage hovered at 63 per cent of the pre-COVID baseline, a 9 per cent rise from the same time the week prior.

Ms Allan believes that was mostly driven by people returning to their offices in the CBD in greater numbers, rather than petrol prices.

Public health experts say public transport for commuters was low-risk at this point of the pandemic, with high-vaccination rates, particularly as face masks are still mandated on the network.

With Noel Towell

The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here.