The NSW Opposition has introduced a toll cap limit as part of its election proposals
The New South Wales Labor party has made a pledge to introduce a $60 weekly toll cap as part of its proposed overhaul of the toll road system.
In the scheme, the Labor party says this overhaul could help immediately ease the burden of increasing tolls across Sydney and Western Sydney.
Labor’s toll cap will be on top of the existing toll rebate and M5 cashback schemes.
This means under Labor, drivers will be safe in knowing they will not pay more than $60 a week in tolls.
Labor’s toll cap will be in place for two years, and will commence on January 1, 2024. It will be administered by Service NSW. Any tolls charged above the cap will be refunded on a quarterly basis.
The party says a Labor government will also appoint Professor Allan Fels AO, former chairman of the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC), to lead an overhaul of the toll network.
Professor Fels’s overhaul would:
- immediately take charge of the current Treasury and Transport review of tolls;
- be responsible for negotiating with tolling operators to drive a good deal for motorists; and
- be tasked with looking at long term reform options to overhaul the tolling system in NSW including but not limited to potential competition in toll contracts, moving freight on toll roads at night, the intersection of public transport and toll roads, long term concessions, what other jurisdictions are doing and compliance with toll contracts.
Under Labor the review and recommendations will be made public, it will be open to submissions and will consult with the transport sector and the toll paying public.
NSW Labor has already committed to keeping the Sydney Harbour Tunnel toll concession in public hands and return revenue from both the Sydney Harbour Tunnel and the Sydney Harbour Bridge to drivers in the form of toll relief.