51,000 drivers each week will have more and better toll relief under NSW Labor’s plan to introduce a $60 weekly toll cap. This will be immediate help to ease the burden of increasing tolls across Sydney and Western Sydney.
Labor’s toll cap will be on top of the existing toll rebate and M5 cashback schemes.
This means under Labor, drivers will be safe in knowing they will not pay more than $60 a week in tolls.
Labor’s toll cap will be in place for two years, and will commence on 1, January 2024. It will be administered by Service NSW. Any tolls charged above the cap will be refunded on a quarterly basis.
A Minns Labor Government will also appoint Professor Allan Fels AO, former chairman of the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC), to lead an overhaul of the toll network.
Professor Fels’s overhaul would:
- immediately take charge of the current Treasury and Transport review of tolls;
- be responsible for negotiating with tolling operators to drive a good deal for motorists; and
- be tasked with looking at long term reform options to overhaul the tolling system in NSW including but not limited to potential competition in toll contracts, moving freight on toll roads at night, the intersection of public transport and toll roads, long term concessions, what other jurisdictions are doing and compliance with toll contracts.
Under Labor the review and recommendations will be made public, it will be open to submissions and will consult with the transport sector and the toll paying public.
Labor’s package gets the balance right between short term, immediate toll relief for motorists over the next two years and long term reform after which Labor will implement the reforms recommended by Professor Fels’s review.
This is a total two year benefit to drivers of $147 million.
There’s a clear choice at the next election when it comes to tolls and privatisation in New South Wales. More privatisation and toll roads under Dominic Perrottet and the Liberals.
Or more and better toll relief under Labor, a long term plan to untangle the toll mess and no more privatisation.
NSW Labor has already committed to keeping the Sydney Harbour Tunnel toll concession in public hands and return revenue from both the Sydney Harbour Tunnel and the Sydney Harbour Bridge to drivers in the form of toll relief.
Quotes attributable to Chris Minns MP, NSW Labor Leader:
“Under Labor, motorists get more and better toll relief.”
“Tolls are out of control in NSW. This mess is Dominic Perrottet’s own making – they have signed secret contracts and privatised toll roads. Those deals are driving these record tolls.”
“It’s a secret tax on families across Sydney.”
“Toll companies can’t lose, Sydney drivers can’t win.”
Quotes attributable to John Graham MLC, Shadow Minister for Roads:
“The Liberals have been obsessed with their toll mania policy and it is hurting the family budget.
“We recognise that people right across Sydney are paying thousands and thousands of dollars in tolls. Under the Liberals it will continue to get worse.
“Only Labor has a plan to combat rising tolls.”
CHRIS MINNS MP
NSW LABOR LEADER
JOHN GRAHAM MLC
NSW DEPUTY LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
NSW SHADOW MINISTER FOR ROADS
