From 5 August a six-month trial for Queensland public transport will reduce all transport fees to 50 cents per trip.
During this period there will be a $150 Million reduction in fare revenue.
A TransLink spokesperson said that the trial will help the community and function of transport around Queensland.
“The trial aims to put money back into the pockets of Queenslanders, reduce road congestion, and help return public transport patronage to pre-COVID levels,” they said.
While Queensland has adopted the 50-cent trial, NSW Transport has increased fares by 3.6%. With the rising cost of living, Queensland’s approach to reducing transport costs may be beneficial for NSW residents. 
This is true of university student, Jadein Gibson Davis, who said the 50-cent fare could help minimise his travel expenses.
“As someone who uses public transport for everywhere I go, one of the biggest expenses I normally have as a university student is my travel fares,” he said.
Adult fares from Wollongong station to Town Hall are currently around $7-8 for a single trip, which adds up for commuters over the course of an entire year.
Data collected after COVID, from Transport NSW, shows that rail travel on the South Coast Line post COVID has dropped by 50 percent when compared to the pre-COVID average, which is only leading to increased road congestion.
By adopting the 50 cent trial, NSW could follow the success of Queensland and offer travellers a more efficient and affordable network.
Bailey and Jadein, who are both students currently studying at the University of Wollongong in NSW, find that their primary expenses are usually spent on public transport for their daily travels to University.
Despite their efforts to manage finances, the rising costs have placed a significant strain on their budgets. Their experiences reflect growing apprehension among many university students who are aware of the affordability of public transport and how it impacts their financial well-being.
This has raised concerns about how travellers should approach using affordable transportation in NSW; as the government of QLD has offered their state with a solution to their public transport network.