Pensioners living north of the 26th parallel will be able to travel by car for their annual free trip to Perth under the State Government's proposed extensions to its Pensioners Travel Scheme.
Announcing the move in Carnarvon today, Premier Carmen Lawrence said pensioners should be able to select the means of travel which best suited their needs.
At present the scheme gave eligible pensioners who live in the north a free air or coach trip to Perth each year.
"Many pensioners have said they would like to use their own cars while they are away from home and it is appropriate that they have that option," Dr Lawrence said.
"After the election, my Government will extend the scheme to car travel."
Under the extended scheme, each eligible person travelling by car would be entitled to claim a refund, whether they were in their own or another person's car.
The Pensioner Travel Scheme was open to all holders of Transport Concession Cards who have lived north of the 26th parallel for a continuous period of two years.
