NSW Labor says signs showing cost of Sydney toll roads should be installed

The NSW Premier has lashed a Labor proposal to tell voters how much they are paying on toll roads. Vote in our poll.

The Premier has lashed a Labor proposal to have signs put up at toll tunnels telling drivers how much it will cost - and how much time it will save - to use them.

Dominic Perrottet shut down any talk of Opposition Leader Chris Minns’ proposal to combat toll costs for motorists by setting the signs up.
In a blistering spray on Monday, Mr Perrottet claimed Labor was “in bed” with toll operators and had “no idea” how to reduce cost of living expenses for Sydneysiders.

“They‘ve been talking about cost of living and downward pressure on tolls, well this is advertising for Transurban and encouraging people onto toll roads,” the Premier said.

“To provide toll road operators with advertising to come onto their toll roads, I don‘t think helps anyone... this is what the toll operators have been arguing for the last five years.”

Mr Perrottet added: “It is a sign of how out of touch they are when it comes to household budgets and cost of living pressures across our state. You need real policies.”
It comes as Labor proposed the signs would be placed at a point where motorists can choose to use the tunnel or turn off and use a free option.

The proposal is Opposition Leader Chris Minns’ first major policy announcement to address the mounting costs of tolls on motorists.

Mr Minns said the signs would be “honest” with drivers who choose to use toll roads.

“We want to be upfront about the costs and travel time savings of toll roads, so that people can make the right choice for them.”

Tolling giant Transurban is open to the idea, following a limited pilot of decision-point signage in Melbourne.

“This is a commonsense measure which helps drivers,” he said.

Labor’s Roads spokesman John Graham likened the toll-road signs to price tags at retail stores.

Labor would mandate signs at the start of toll roads telling motorists how much the journey will cost, but also how much time they would save, similar to signs being trialled in Melbourne. Picture: Supplied

The benefit of decision-point signs are set to be examined at a parliamentary inquiry into toll roads on Monday, which will hear from Treasury and Transport officials, as well as Transurban executives.

Transurban would be open to working with the Government to trial the signs.

“Decision point signage is about giving drivers choice in their travel plans, right at the point where they need it, by displaying live travel times to destinations on toll roads compared to the free alternative,” Transurban NSW Group Executive Michele Huey said.

“For example, a sign would display the live travel time savings for roads like NorthConnex and WestConnex compared with free alternatives. It could also inform drivers if there’s been a delay,” she said.

“This is a simple but innovative approach that helps build trust and value, and Transurban would be open to working with the Government to get a trial up and running like we have in Victoria, where around 70 per cent of people said they would use the sign to inform future travel choices.”