$60 toll cap: Labor’s relief for cash-strapped commuters

In one of the most significant Labor policy announcements to date, Opposition leader Chris Minns has unveiled the details of his much- promised pledge to provide toll relief to motorists.

Motorists will pay no more than $60 a week in tolls and potentially save thousands a year under a Labor cost-of-living measure aimed at more than 50,000 road users.

In one of the most significant Labor policy announcements to date, Opposition leader Chris Minns has unveiled the details of his much- promised pledge to provide toll relief to motorists.

Under the $150 million plan, a “toll cap” from January 2024 will be put in place for two years, with any tolls charged above the cap to be ­refunded on a quarterly basis.

The cap, to be administered by Service NSW, will be on top of the existing toll rebate and M5 cashback schemes.

It also involves the appointment of Professor Allan Fels AO – former chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) – to lead an overhaul of the toll network.

The overhaul would take charge of the current Treasury and Transport review of tolls while also taking responsibility for negotiating with tolling operators to drive a better deal for motorists.

Mr Fells will also be tasked with looking at long term ­reform options to overhaul the tolling system, including potential competition in toll contracts, moving freight on toll roads at night, the intersection of public transport and toll roads, long term concessions and compliance with contacts.

Labor has pledged to make the review and its recommendations public, with the transport sector and motorists to be consulted.

“Tolls are out of control in NSW,” Mr Minns said.

Sydney commuters are being slugged thousands of dollars per year in road tolls. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“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.”

The state government has yet to release its long-touted tolling reforms.

In January, Premier ­Dominic Perrottet declared a major restructure of the toll system would occur by 2025.

The Labor toll cap has been calculated to cost $147 million.

It estimates as many as 51,000 drivers in any given week will benefit.

Chris Minns has unveiled his plan to save Sydney commuters thousands per year. Picture: NewsWire/Monique Harmer

The policy pledge is on top of an existing commitment to keep 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.

Labor has also ruled out privatising the Western Harbour Tunnel.

NSW Labor’s roads spokesman John Graham said the Liberal Party’s “toll mania” was hurting the budget of Western Sydney families.

A resident in Camden travelling along the M5 Southwest, M5 East and Eastern Distributer pays around $220 a week if using tolls there and back over five days.

A Penrith resident driving on the M4 and Cross City Tunnel pays $159 weekly while a Rivestone motorist using the M7, M2, Lane Cove Tunnel and Sydney Harbour Bridge is having to cough up $223.

“We recognise that people right across Sydney are paying thousands and thousands of dollars in tolls,” Mr Graham said.

“Only Labor has a plan to combat rising tolls.”