Victoria and Tasmania will offer free public transport services as Australia's fuel crisis escalates.
Victoria Premier Jacinta Allan has announced that trains, trams and buses across the state will be free to everyone from Tuesday.
The temporary free travel period will last all of April, and could be extended on a month-by-month basis if the fuel crisis continues.
Commuters won't need to tap on with their myki, with any accidental charges to be refunded, and all gates will be open to avoid congestion.
Annual myki passes will be paused automatically and resume after April.
Premier Jacinta Allan said the move 'won't solve every problem', but it would help Victorians amid rising costs.
'As Premier, I'm determined to do everything within my control to help Victorians deal with rising fuel prices,' she said.
'This is a temporary measure to help with the cost of living - it will take pressure off the pump and help you save.'
Tasmania can travel for free on buses and ferries from March 30 until July 1.
It comes as the state recorded a 20 per cent increase in public transport use in the last week alone.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff said the measure will help ease pressure on household budgets.
'Tasmanians will not pay a cent on public bus routes, making buses more accessible and affordable for all,' he said.
'Tasmanians from all corners of our state will see real savings from this cost-of-living measure. We encourage Tasmanians to hop on a bus and travel for free, right around our great state.'
No fare is required while free travel is in place and commuters have been directed to not tap their GreenCard when boarding.
Commuters are encouraged to allow extra travel time, particularly during peak periods.
Premier Allan's announcement sparked a divided response from Aussies.
Public transport will be free in Victoria until the end of April, which could be extended
It comes as hundreds of service stations across Australia remain without fuel
Many said the measures will only help Melbourne commuters.
'And how does this help regional communities that have bugger all public transport?' one Victorian commented online.
Another said: 'How does that help those of us who live in country areas where public transport is not available to help us get to and from work?'
Others also noted the flow on impact on parking at train stations.
While the measure was better received in Tasmania, there were calls for the government to introduce more services to keep up with demand.
'This would be great for so many more people if there was more buses and times added to the timetable... I had a look in my area the other day to start catching the bus to school with my kids,but the only bus available was at 6:30am and that was it until 11am,' one woman said.
Another added:'It should always be free,especially for children,low income and senior citizens travelling.I hope the pressure on this leads to some reform around our public transport system,that makes it more accessible and usable for all.'
Meanwhile in NSW, unions are calling on the state government to make Sydney's public transport free or heavily discounted in response to soaring petrol prices.
Toby Warnes, from the Rail, Tram and Bus Union, said the measure would provide instant cost of living relief.
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'You could reduce it to nothing for a period of time, or we could adopt the Queensland model and reduce it to 50 cent fares,' he told Seven News.
'This is something the government could do with a flick of a switch. This is a global fuel crisis we haven't since seen the 1970s and they're talking about it being worse.'
'We need to take every measure that we have in our arsenal right now.'
NSW transport minister John Graham wouldn't commit to the proposal last week, and instead called for people to be more frugal with fuel.
It comes as hundreds of service stations across Australia, particularly in NSW and Queensland, remain without fuel.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Saturday that the government would introduce new legislation on Monday to help private importers get more fuel into the country.
The government will underwrite multimillion dollar petrol shipments to boost Australia's supplies under the new powers.