(March 29): Two Australian states will temporarily offer free public transport to ease the effects of rising fuel costs, as prolonged hostilities in the Middle East increase supply risks. Residents in Victoria will not be charged for public transport for one month from March 31, according to an emailed statement from the state government. Australia faces elevated fuel supply risks, with several hundred service stations reporting shortfalls, and disruptions in delivery reported in the agriculture and mining sectors. Higher fuel costs are also complicating the inflation outlook for the central bank. As of Thursday, traders are fully pricing two more RBA rate hikes this year.

Source: The Edge Markets March 29, 2026 05:24 UTC