A new survey from ITS Australia has revealed strong, consistent support across the transport technology sector for the transition to a road user charging (RUC) model, highlighting industry alignment on both the need for reform and the pathway forward.
Drawing on detailed responses from professionals across the transport ecosystem, the survey captures informed, practitioner-led perspectives on the future of road funding in Australia.
Within the industry cohort, RUC is widely viewed as both necessary and desirable – particularly in addressing long-term revenue sustainability and improving fairness across the network.
Key themes emerging from the survey include a clear focus on revenue sustainability and fairness for all vehicle types as primary policy objectives and strong support for a staged implementation that starts with odometer-based distance charging before evolving to more advanced models.
The survey responses also include a consistent call for national coordination, recognition that equity considerations must be central and an emphasis on simplicity, transparency and privacy protections.
As Australia’s peak body for advanced transport technology, ITS Australia represents many of the industry leaders driving innovation in tolling and mobility. Australia is recognised globally as a pioneer in tolling, having been among the first nations to deploy multi-lane free-flow tolling and develop a nationally harmonised, interoperable system that sets the benchmark for seamless road user charging.
ITS Australia CEO Susan Harris says the results reflect a clear and pragmatic consensus emerging across the sector.
“What we’re seeing from industry is a strong alignment on both the need for reform and how to approach it. There is clear support for a measured transition to road user charging – one that starts simply, prioritises fairness, and builds trust with the community through transparency and strong privacy protections,” she says.
The survey results closely align with recent national polling by Transport Australia, which also found growing public support for moving from fuel excise to a distance-based charging model, and reinforces the importance of a nationally coordinated approach to reform, alongside a phased implementation pathway that can adapt over time as technology, policy settings and community understanding evolve.
As the conversation around road user charging evolves, it will be a key focus at the upcoming ITS Australia Global Summit, held in Melbourne on September 22-24.
This work forms part of ITS Australia’s broader role in supporting the national conversation on road user charging, including convening government and industry stakeholders through forums and events. It also aligns with the organisation’s 2024–29 Strategic Plan priority of supporting collaborative, evidence-based research.