‘Tollmania’ back with a vengeance in Sydney, despite Premier Chris Minns’ promise

From 2028, motorists will be slugged $100-million more in tolls, with the clearest sign yet there will be a two-way charge on the Harbour Bridge. It comes despite the Premier’s promise to end what he labelled “tollmania”.

Motorists in Sydney are about to be slugged with $100m more in tolls. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

Transport Minister John Graham has stopped short of promising drivers a new toll relief package from January, despite the Premier pledging hours earlier to unveil a “perpetual” and “self-sustaining” cost of living program to save drivers cash.

Pressed on budget figures which forecast a $100 million hike to toll revenue, Mr Graham said the massive spike is “good news” because it means money is “flowing back into public hands,” rather than being paid to private operators.

The government is still locked in negotiations with toll road companies in a bid to overhaul the tolling network, a process which is costing millions of dollars in consultant fees.

Premier Chris Minns vowed on Tuesday that he would announce a new toll relief package by January to replace the outgoing $60 weekly toll cap.

However, Mr Graham refused to offer the same assurance.

“We’re still working through that we need to find a way to fund toll relief in the long term, if it’s going to continue,” he said.

“I believe it’s very possible to get reform, but I do want to say these are tough discussions, and it certainly hasn’t been easy,” he said.

Mr Graham maintained that the government has not yet made a decision on whether to impose two-way tolling on the Harbour Bridge and Tunnel, despite previously saying there was a “strong case” to do so.

$100m hike: ‘Tollmania’ back with a vengeance

On Tuesday morning, The Telegraph revealed drivers would be slugged a whopping $100 million more in tolls on government roads from 2028, as shock budget figures reveal revenue from tolls will grow by almost 20 per cent, on average, over four years.

As tolls on the Harbour Bridge and Tunnel increase on Tuesday, The Daily Telegraph can reveal toll revenues are projected to skyrocket when the Western Harbour Tunnel and M6 open.

That is despite Premier Chris Minns promising to end what he labelled “tollmania” before the election.

The budget figures include projected toll revenue from the new Western Harbour Tunnel.

That assumption is the strongest indication yet that the Minns government will impose a two-way toll on the Harbour Bridge and tunnel when the new harbour crossing opens, to make the pricing consistent on all three crossings.

Over the next four years, toll revenue on government roads is forecast to increase by 19.4 per cent each year.

The projected increase is down to forecasts that toll revenue will explode by $100 million in 2028-29, when two new toll roads open.

Tolls on the Sydney Harbour Bridge will increase on Tuesday. Picture: NewsWire / Monique Harmer

Drivers are expected to be fork out $283 million in tolls on government-owned roads in 2028-29, compared to $180 million the year prior.

The government expects to raise $159 million in toll revenue this financial year, an $160 million in 2026-27.

The Minns government insists that no decision has been made on whether to impose each-way tolls on the Bridge and Tunnel.

Each-way tolling was recommended by the government’s toll review last year, and Transport Minister John Graham said there was a “strong case” for the new charge.

Opposition Leader Mark Speakman seized on the forecasts to accuse the government of abandoning an election pledge to lower tolls.

“The government is addicted to the toll revenue and they need to come clean on what changes they have for the people of NSW,” he said.

Last week’s budget also confirmed the Minns government’s signature $60 toll cap will end in January next year.

The Minns government’s signature $60 toll cap will end in January 2026. Photo: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

Mr Graham has said tolls will eventually become cheaper when the government finalises an overhaul of the whole network.

In a statement, Mr Graham said the budget said the forecast revenue due to the M6 and Western Harbour Tunnel “is a result of tolling decisions made by the former Liberal government”.

“We were upfront with the public before the election that the problem of tolls would get worse, not better, and that is exactly what is happening,” he said.

Engineering manager Tom Parish, 28, frequently drives across the bridge from his house in Redfern to visit family.

Tom Parish and Emily Augustine, from Redfern, at Central Station. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

He said he “wouldn’t have much choice” to pay a new northbound toll.

“I wouldn’t be very happy about it but I’d still use it,” he said.

Mr Parish said the cost of tolls can be an unexpected hit to his budget.

“Tolls are one of the things that catch you when you least expect it and it can be quite steep.”
Premier Chris Minns has promised toll relief from January, suggesting he will extend the $60 toll cap or replace it with a new cost of living relief measure.

Mr Minns told 2GB that the government will use an increasing revenue on government-owned roads to fund a “permanent fix” to toll prices.

“I’m not going to let down people from western sydney, we’re going to keep a program in place,” he said

There was no money in the budget to extend the toll cap beyond January next year, when it is due to end.

Mr Minns has promised a new cost of living measure before then, even if he cannot negotiate permanent reform with toll road companies.

“I’ve got six months but I’m not going to let down those motorists,” he said.

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Originally published as ‘Tollmania’ back with a vengeance in Sydney, despite Premier Chris Minns’ promise