Evil toll under the bridge: Labor sneakily rips $1.9m from motorists in election promise backflip

Motorists have been slugged $1.9 million in fees after the Minns government backflipped on a pre-election pledge to scrap “sneaky” admin charges for drivers without e-tags.

Labor promised no new tolls and to scrap admin fees before the election, but all we’re seeing is higher tolls on the people’s bridge and those fees are still hitting motorists, according to the Opposition transport spokeswoman.

Motorists have been slugged $1.9 million in fees that the Minns government promised to scrap before the election, after Transport Minister John Graham walked away from a pre-election pledge to scrap “sneaky” admin charges for drivers without e-tags.

The Saturday Telegraph can reveal that the government raised almost $2 million in admin fees on the Harbour Bridge and Tunnel in the past 12 months, despite Premier Chris Minns vowing from opposition to ditch “tolls on tolls”.

Mr Minns went to the election two years ago promising his Labor government would stop charging drivers without an e-toll account up to $20 to use toll roads across the state.

On top of paying the toll itself, drivers without an e-tag continue to be charged a $10 administration fee every time they take a toll road. They cop another $10 if they fail to pay the first notice.

Premier Chris Minns went to the election promising to stop charging drivers without an e-toll account up to $20 to use toll roads. Picture: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

Even drivers who have a Linkt account still have to cough up an extra $1.10 if their tag doesn’t work or isn’t detected, which doubles to $2.20 if a second toll notice is issued.

The stubborn fees can be revealed after NSW Transport Minister John Graham increased tolls on the Sydney Harbour Bridge and tunnel last week for the second time since Labor was elected.

But he failed to make any change to the administration charges and has not provided a timeline for when they will be dumped.

In a statement, Mr Graham said the admin fees were only “on the table”.

“We promised to make all toll road operators issue consolidated toll notices and stop gouging motorists with excessive administration fees set at arbitrary levels, and that’s exactly what we are doing,” he said.

Transport Minister John Graham said the pledge was promised to stop road operators from gouging motorists with excessive administration fees. Picture: NewsWire / Monique Harmer

“The Fels Toll Review backed this approach and it is now on the table as part of toll reform.”

The comments pale in comparison to Mr Graham’s statement before the election, where he declared the government would “cut these tolling administration fees as (the review) begins the work of real long-term toll reform”.

Opposition transport spokeswoman Natalie Ward said almost 800 days into its toll review the government had failed to deliver relief to drivers. Picture: NewsWire / John Appleyard

Opposition transport spokeswoman Natalie Ward said the government had failed to deliver relief for drivers almost 800 days into its toll review, which has cost taxpayers $10 million to date.

“It’s classic Labor — they promised no new tolls and to scrap admin fees before the election, but all we’re seeing is higher tolls on the people’s bridge and those fees are still hitting motorists,” she said.

“[Meanwhile] the only people benefiting from the 794-day toll review are the consultants cashing in.”

Ms Ward claimed the minister could scrap charges on the harbour bridge and tunnel “with a flick of his pen” because the assets are owned by the government.

But Mr Graham said it would be “naive in the extreme” to scrap fees on the bridge and tunnel before the government agrees with toll operator Transurban to “clean up and lower fees” on the other ten privately-owned motorways.

A Transurban spokeswoman said the company was “committed” to working with the government on toll reform.

Admin fees to be slashed before next election

In a statement released on Saturday, Mr Graham pledged to stop toll operators issuing individual admin fees before the next state election in 2027.

“The Minns Government promised to make all toll road operators issue consolidated toll notices to stop gouging motorists with excessive administration fees set at arbitrary levels,” the statement read.

“This election commitment will be fulfilled before the next election.”

Mr Graham said the relief had not been delivered in the last two years due to complex toll reform negotiations with operators.

“Nothing about changing toll arrangement is simple given the contracts we were left with by the former government,” the statement read.

“We are currently in a direct deal negotiation with the toll road operators, fighting for a better deal for the drivers of Sydney.”

Originally published as Evil toll under the bridge: Labor sneakily rips $1.9m from motorists in election promise backflip