The war in the Middle East has exposed a hard truth: Australia is deeply dependent on imported fuel, and when global supply is disrupted, ordinary people pay the price. Right now: • Petrol prices are rising rapidly • Fuel shortages are being reported across multiple states   • The federal government has convened emergency meetings to respond   Experts, unions, and policymakers are already calling for action. One of the clearest solutions? Discounted or free public transport to reduce pressure on fuel supply and household costs. Queensland has already shown what’s possible with 50-cent fares. Victoria can act too. We’ve already spent billions building the network, including the Metro Tunnel and new stations across Melbourne. Now we need to make sure people can afford to use it.