Carroll scraps secret $8 billion levy on public transport fares
Victorian Premier Ben Carroll has abolished a secret $8 billion levy on public transport fares that was intended to fund the Suburban Rail Loop. The move follows a critical auditor-general report that highlighted transparency issues and potential budget blowouts for the project.
Why it matters
The decision creates a significant funding gap for a major infrastructure project and raises questions about government transparency and fiscal management.
— 10:29am , first published August 27, 2026 — 9:36am
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Share A A A Delaying one of the contracts to build stations on the Suburban Rail Loop until after the state election risks adding up to $1 billion to the project’s cost, in addition to the almost $8 billion the state will have to find to replace a hastily scrapped levy.
The warning, identified in a scathing report released by the Victorian auditor-general, highlights a significant challenge for Premier Ben Carroll, who has sworn to shave $2 billion from the project but won’t sign any further contracts until a review is completed in three to six months.
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