CityLink toll anger: Bus operators join Lindsay Fox in slamming rises

BUS operators have joined trucking magnate Lindsay Fox in slamming CityLink toll rises for heavy vehicles, saying it may drive some small businesses to the wall.

Skybus may face millions in extra tolls. Picture: James Thomas

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BUS operators have joined trucking magnate Lindsay Fox in slamming CityLink toll rises for heavy vehicles, saying it may drive some small businesses to the wall.

Treasurer Tim Pallas has also come under fire for trying to spin the impact of the ­increases, which will see some CityLink tolls rise from about $12 to $26.

In an interview on 3AW on Monday, Mr Pallas tried to defend the rises, created by the previous government but endorsed by the Andrews government, as a “negligible part” of trucking industry costs that may be passed to consumers.

“This will be a part of the supply chain cost ... a part of the freight costs that ­attach to the cost of goods,” he said.

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said Mr Pallas’s spin was unintelligible and the government needed to start taking responsibility for its actions.

EDITORIAL: SPIN AND THE BLAME GAME

Treasurer Tim Pallas has tried to defend CityLink toll rises as a “negligible part” of trucking industry costs that may be passed to consumers. Picture: AAP/Sam Mooy

Bus Victoria executive ­director Chris Lowe said his ­organisation had not ruled out a legal challenge to the increase in Transurban tolls, after the Herald Sun revealed on Monday that Mr Fox was planning to fight the increases which he called “extortion”.

Mr Lowe said Skybus could face millions in additional tolls, while some smaller operators would not be able to absorb the increases and might go under.

Those school buses with contracted routes on tollways would have to write to the government to recoup costs.

“It just does not seem conscionable. We understand that things go up, maybe 5 per cent, but to go up 50 to 75 per cent is a very difficult pill for a coach operator to swallow,” he said.

Skybus may face millions in extra tolls. Picture: James Thomas

Transurban said the rises were because of a $1 billion ­investment in the CityLink-Tullamarine corridor.

“The changes on CityLink bring the truck toll rates more into line with what trucks are already paying on other toll roads, both here in Melbourne and in other states,” a spokesman said.

“Without this investment, congestion and travel times on our road network will worsen,” he added.

John Milanese, who runs Mr John Tours, said his toll costs could be almost doubled to $800 a month if he kept the same bus route.

“My price rates are locked in about six months in advance and I am unable to pass on any costs,” he said.

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