Qld politics: Surprise law change makes it easier to raise tolls

A war of words has erupted over Story Bridge toll charges after the government rushed through surprise laws after dark.

Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg in Parliament on Wednesday. Picture: John Gass/NCA NewsWire

Slapping Queensland motorists with higher tolls has been made easier after the state government rushed through surprise changes in Parliament on the back of unrelated laws.

The shock changes were pushed through after dark on Wednesday.

It’s a move that has triggered the Opposition to allege the government was attempting to help Queensland’s main toll operator Transurban — an ASX listed company that made $568m in toll revenue in Brisbane last financial year.

Opposition transport spokesman Bart Mellish went so far as to accuse the government of teeing up better investor confidence for Transurban so it could pursue upgrades to roads and potentially expand in the state to operate a toll on the Story Bridge.

But Mr Mickelberg said it was “categorically false” to suggest the changes made it easier to implement tolls on the Story Bridge.

Instead the changes were about less paper work for the minister in increasing toll road prices. Toll road fees can still only increase as high as the official inflation figure.

The law changes which cut red-tape on toll prices was pushed through as a surprise amendment on the government’s parole board laws.

The Opposition has accused the state government of making the changes because it has struck a deal with Transurban and needs this in place ahead of the state budget on June 24 and any planned road upgrade announcements.

Mr Mellish said the changes would quietly pave the way for tolls to be declared on Queensland roads with less scrutiny and less transparency.

“These laws mean they can slap a toll on any road or hike up an existing road toll without fear, favour or proper consultation,” he said.

“And why have they smuggled this into a bill that is completely unrelated to these matters being raised?”

Transurban’s 2023-24 financial year report, released on August 8 last year when Labor was still in power, noted it was partnering with the Queensland government to develop plans for widening the western section of the Logan Motorway.

“The project (is) now in Binding Upgrade Proposal stage. Transurban and the Queensland Government will work through this stage to agree the final scope and funding model for the project,” the report noted.

Transurban was contacted for comment on Wednesday night.

Current toll roads in Queensland and price per car trip:

AirportLink M7: $6.83

Legacy Way: $6.82

Clem7: $6.33

Gateway Motorway: $5.63 (Murarrie section), $3.32 (Kuraby section)

Go Between Bridge: $3.95

Logan Motorway: $3.52

Toowoomba Bypass: $2.81

Opposition transport spokesman Bart Mellish