Interstate Travel Cheaper for Australian Seniors

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Seniors will pay less to travel on public transport outside their home states after a $50 million injection into state and territory coffers.

The national scheme to allow seniors to use their concession cards outside their home states started rolling out on January 1, federal Community Services Minister Jenny Macklin said on Sunday.

The federal government has reached an agreement with NSW, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, the Northern Territory and the ACT to recognize each other's senior concession cards.

"We're still negotiating with Queensland and Western Australia, but we are very pleased that the other states have agreed to recognize each other's concession card and make it easier for seniors as they travel around Australia," Ms Macklin told reporters in Melbourne.

"This will mean, when it's fully implemented, three million senior Australians will be able to access cheaper travel interstate.

"That means it's good for those senior Australians and it's also good for the tourism industry."

The $50 million will be provided over four years.

NSW will receive almost half the funds, with $22.6 million allocated, while Victoria will get $6.3 million and South Australia $1.4 million.

The ACT will receive more than $648,000, Tasmania $432,000 and the Northern Territory will get over $277,000.