Fears of ‘transport poverty’

TONY EASTLEY: Petrol prices weigh on the mind of any motorist, but there are predictions that if the cost of fuel continues to rise, the poorest Australians will be forced to quit work because they can’t afford to travel back and forth to their jobs.

Researchers are calling it “transport poverty”, and it’s a concept that’ll be presented to a conference in Melbourne today.


Jane Cowan reports.

JANE COWAN: On the outskirts of Melbourne alone, at least 20,000 families earn less than $500 a week but run more than two cars.

Monash University’s Chair of Public Transport, Graham Currie, says the price of petrol doesn’t have to rise much more before those families simply won’t be able to afford to fill up the tank.

ABC