Sydney drivers will be slammed with record toll increases beginning from tomorrow, as NSW Labor reiterates its call for the NSW Government to urgently deliver toll relief.
 
The tolls – many of which which are calculated by the greater of the Consumer Price Index or four per cent – have surged as a result of cost of living increases in Sydney.  
 
On April 1, quarterly toll increases will take effect on the M2, M5 West, Lane Cove Tunnel, Cross City Tunnel, Eastern Distributor and the M7, with annualised rate increases of between 4.2 per cent and 5.7 per cent. 
 
Furthermore, based on the inflation forecasts in the federal budget, the Westconnex set of toll roads will rise by over four per cent per annum on January 1, 2023.
 
Sydneysiders already pay tolls on over a million trips per day, totalling about $2.3 billion annually. 
 
Over the remaining life of existing toll road contracts, this will leave Sydney motorists paying over $100 billion in tolls – all going to private toll road operators.
  
The Opposition has been critical of the Government’s ‘toll-mania’ rollout which has seen tolls rise to unprecedented levels – with more tolls and toll roads on the way. 
 
Recent national CPI figures show that over the last ten years (40 quarters), only three have exceeded one per cent in a quarter, including the most recent figure. 
 
Chris Minns, NSW Labor Leader said:
 
“Families and households in Sydney are being slammed with a surge in the cost of living.
 
“To add insult to injury, their daily commute to work will also see a commensurate increase in tolls.
 
“The Government has previously promised toll relief, but has failed to deliver, and on April 1 when tolls surge, they’ll be taking motorists for fools.”
 
John Graham, NSW Shadow Minister for Roads said:
 
“This is double trouble for drivers. The rising cost of petrol and other essentials is now driving tolls higher.
 
“It is the worst possible time for this to happen, with household budgets already stretched.
 
“The last time we have seen this impact form inflation on tolls was in 2013.
 
“We are calling on the Government to deliver toll relief rather than continually put up toll prices.”

 
April 1 quarterly toll increase as annualised figures: