Almost two-thirds of NSW toll relief payments unclaimed in 12 months since $60 weekly cap introduced

NSW drivers have left more than $140m on the table, with almost two-thirds of toll relief payments left unclaimed in the first 12 months of the $60 weekly cap.

NSW drivers have left more than $140m on the table in unclaimed toll rebates. Picture: NCA Newswire/ Monique Harmer

NSW drivers have left more than $140m on the table, with almost two-thirds of toll relief payments left unclaimed in the first 12 months of the weekly cap.

The state government introduced a $60 weekly toll cap in January 2024, allowing motorists who spent more than that amount on tolls to claim back up to $340 each week.

Roughly $75m has been returned to drivers since the introduction of the cap, with western Sydney motorists claiming the most.

Blacktown, Baulkham Hills, Auburn, Merrylands and Marsden Park have all become members of $1m club, claiming seven-figure sums.

But the total could have exceeded $215m, with roughly $140m in potential relief left unclaimed.

Roads Minister John Graham. Picture: NewsWire / Damian Shaw

The figure has prompted the NSW Government to urge drivers to familiarise themselves with the process of claiming rebates through the Service NSW website.

Roads Minister John Graham said toll relief was a “critical cost-of-living” support for hundreds of thousands of drivers, many of whom had “no viable alternative” to using the toll road network.

About 115 suburbs have an average claim of $300 or more, including Parramatta, Lidcombe, Schofields, Westmead, Toongabbie, Merrylands and Auburn.

“When we designed the toll relief scheme we did so with those suburbs in mind, where paying a toll is the price to get around and where, in many cases public transport service is nowhere near the level of service enjoyed by other parts of Sydney,” Mr Graham said.

“Labor does not forget these suburbs that were saddled with such high tolls by the previous Coalition government.

“We know people are doing it tough and the toll cap is making it just that little bit fairer for drivers that heavily rely on the toll roads.”

Customer Service Minister Jihad Dib said the NSW Government’s data continued to show “people whose journeys start and end in western Sydney” were claiming “the lion’s share of toll relief, and this is where it is needed most”.

Originally published as Almost two-thirds of NSW toll relief payments unclaimed in 12 months since $60 weekly cap introduced