Melbourne inner-city traffic congestion tax plan rejected by state government, Opposition

A CITY of Melbourne plan that involved replacing registration fees with per-kilometre fees has been rejected by the state government and Opposition.

A CITY of Melbourne plan to consider an inner-city congestion tax has been rejected by the state government and Opposition.

The plan ­involves replacing car registration fees with per-kilometre fees or charges applying in particular zones.

Lord Mayor Sally Capp said the council aimed to stir debate with a discussion paper that would help shape its new transport plan.

“For people that are passing through our city, we are suggesting that perhaps they pay a little bit more to really make them think: do they need to make that trip?” she said.

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City of Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp. Picture: AAP

“By thinking twice, which a congestion tax tends to (make people) do, we may actually see a decline (in congestion).”

However, a senior state minister has rejected the prospect of even considering such a suggestion.

“We don’t have any plans to change the current arrangements,” Transport Minister Jacinta Allan said.

“We haven’t examined this because we don’t have any plans to change the current policy settings.”

Roads Minister Luke Donnellan also ruled out any policy to replace vehicle registration fees.

And Liberal MP Tim Smith, the Opposition’s spokesman on scrutiny of government, called it a “crazy idea”.

The Member for Kew said: “Sally Capp … has no understanding of the cost-of-living pressures facing Victorians.”

But former premier John Brumby urged road user pricing to be considered, saying “responsible governments have to make hard choices about the future”.