It was during a family trip to Queensland that teenager Oscar Perry realised he was paying too much for public transport.
The 16-year-old high school student, who lives on the NSW Central Coast, regularly takes the train to Sydney and around his local area.
While holidaying in the sunshine state, Perry clocked the enviable 50c fare scheme, which was made permanent last year, and asked himself a simple question: Why not trial cheaper fares in NSW too?
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"I realised how cheap it was and how many more people use public transport there," Perry told Nine.com.au.
"Personally, I spend about $10 or more a week on public transport just going to and from work.
"If I take the train down to Sydney from Gosford, it'll be an extra $10 in total, $5 each way."
A concession Opal card is capped at $25 per week for students.
Adult fares are even more expensive, costing up to $19.30 per day or a cap of $50 per week.
Under a 50c fare rule, you would need to take 50 return trips per week to spend $50.
According to NSW Greens MP Kobi Shetty, who is running her own petition for 50c fares, lowering the price would save full-time workers a $2160 per year.
"Is it too expensive? It's more expensive than Queensland. It's more expensive than Paris or Berlin," Perry said.
"And it could be more affordable."
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The debate around free public transport in NSW reached a fever pitch in mid-March, when the state government refused to follow in Victoria's footsteps in opening the gates or even offering even reduced fares.
At the time, State Treasurer Daniel Mookhey claimed the government wanted to avoid an expensive knee-jerk reaction to the conflict in the Middle East.
Perry doesn't buy this excuse.
He started a petition on Change.org to urge the Minns government to trial 50c fares on the Opal network.
"Queensland has demonstrated what's possible," he said.
"The Minns government already has a template.
"With uncertainty around the price of fuel at the moment and the cost of car ownership increasing significantly, this feels like an opportunity for the NSW government to be forward-looking and make public transport very cheap or free for residents or visitors of NSW."
Queensland's cheap fares come at a $300 million blow to the budget each year.
The NSW government has made it clear it won't accept a similar financial loss – however Perry believes the money would "find its way back into the economy".
The movement has generated significant support, with over 1000 petition signatures and hundreds of followers on Instagram.
But Perry said the NSW government has not shown much interest in his campaign.
"I have already contacted the state government, the response from John Graham felt very dismissive and scripted," Perry explained.
"I am hopeful that as this movement gains momentum and support the government will be more engaged.
"There is a conversation to be had. And if there is enough support the government cannot ignore it."
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Perry's concerns over the cost-of-living crisis in NSW and beyond are not isolated.
A 13-year-old Adelaide boy named Sebastian Muñoz-Najar has also created a petition calling on the government to urgently fix the housing crisis with reforms.
Muñoz-Najar did the math and realised, at the current rate of growth, the median home will cost $5.5 million by the time he his 40.
It seems Australia's youth are terrified about their future.
"I am worried just considering recent trends with the rising house prices, rising cost of living and the salaries not increasing by a huge amount," Perry added.
"Schemes like this can help residents lower costs and hopefully make NSW more affordable for everyone."
Nine.com.au has contacted the NSW Minister for Transport John Graham for comment.
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