Canberra Liberals’ Leader Mark Parton MLA brought a motion to the Assembly calling on all party leaders and independent MLAs to write to the Prime Minister and urge him to temporarily reduce the level of federal petrol excise, and for the ACT Government to implement a trial of 50-cent fares until 30 June 2026. 

The ACT Greens moved amendments, which altered the motion to call on the Government to offer free public transport during the crisis and to do so permanently for concession card holders, and for all members of the Assembly to write to the Prime Minister to advocate for the implementation of a 25 per cent tax on gas exports instead of a fuel excise reduction. The amendment was supported by Thomas, independent MLA Fiona Carrick and the ACT Greens, but was voted down by ACT Labor and the Canberra Liberals. 

ACT Labor moved amendments to the motion calling on all party leaders and independent Members to write to the Prime Minister to call on him to temporarily reduce the level of federal petrol excise and seeking federal funding to enable the provision of free public transport during the fuel-supply crisis, 50-cent fares after the crisis, and for an uplift in investment in public and active transport infrastructure. Thomas spoke against this amendment, which had been negotiated with the Canberra Liberals, criticising it for watering down the initial calls and removing any firm commitment for the ACT Government to reduce fares. He was critical of the primary call in the motion being a call for Members to write to the Prime Minister to take action without requiring any specific action at the Territory level.

Independent MLA Fiona Carrick moved an amendment to ACT Labor’s amendments, which added a call for the ACT Government to add sufficient bus services to meet the demand induced from reduced fares. This amendment to the amendment was agreed to unanimously. The amendment, as amended, was also passed by the Assembly. 

Thomas then introduced his own amendment calling on the Government to encourage increased public and active transport uptake by trailing dedicated bus lanes on as many Rapid bus routes as possible and implementing pop-up separated cycle lanes on as many key traffic corridors as possible, such as Northbourne Avenue. His amendments were supported by the ACT Greens and independent MLA Fiona Carrick, but were voted down by ACT Labor and the Canberra Liberals.

The motion, as amended by ACT Labor with Ms Carrick’s amendment, was ultimately supported by the Assembly.