NSW Labor will slash tolls for tradies and truck drivers along the M5 East and the M8, immediately helping to ease the burden of increasing tolls crippling small businesses who need to move around Sydney.
Currently, trucks and vehicles such as some oversize utes are tolled at three times the rate of cars. Labor will reduce the 3 times truck multiplier to 2 times for up to 10 truck trips per week.
Labor’s toll relief plan is expected to cut the average truck toll by $8, saving a truck driver who does two trips a day, five days a week, a total of $3,800 a year. Cheaper tolls will also incentivise trucks off local suburban roads.
Labor’s plan will be in place for two years, and will commence on 1, January 2024. This is short term relief while Labor looks at long term, structural reform to the toll network through the Professor Allan Fels AO led review.
Each day, trucks make around 8,000 trips on the M5 East and M8, paying $23.95 per trip.
Trucks are avoiding the newly tolled M5 East and M8, according to an analysis of Transurban trip data.
Instead, they’re flooding nearby local suburban streets, such as Stoney Creek Road and Forest Road, disrupting local communities and businesses.
This is a total two year benefit to drivers of $34.1 million.
Labor’s package gets the balance right between short term, immediate toll relief for truckies and tradies over the next two years and long term reform through a comprehensive review of the tolls network.
There’s a clear choice at the next election when it comes to tolls and privatisation in New South Wales. More privatisation and toll roads under Dominic Perrottet and the Liberals.
Or more and better toll relief under Labor, a long term plan to untangle the toll mess and no more privatisation.
NSW Labor has already committed to:
- A $60 weekly toll cap for motorists for 2 years, on top of the existing toll rebate and M5 cashback schemes;
- Professor Allan Fels AO to take charge of the existing secret toll review and to establish a plan for longer term reform.
- Keeping the Sydney Harbour Tunnel toll concession in public hands and returning revenue from both the Sydney Harbour Tunnel and the Sydney Harbour Bridge to drivers in the form of toll relief.
Quotes attributable to Chris Minns, NSW Labor Leader:
“Labor’s toll relief policy will deliver more toll relief for small businesses, get trucks off local roads and provides a fresh start for our state’s toll network, and the drivers who use them.”
“The government’s decision to put a new toll on a 20 year old road is forcing truck drivers to use local roads, causing traffic chaos and congestion and hurting businesses.”
“Families have had their lives turned upside down by thousands of B-double trucks hurtling through local roads 24 hours a day because they are now trying to avoid paying the exorbitant tolls caused by Dominic Perrottet and the NSW Liberals.”
“It’s also hurting small businesses like tradies who need to move around Sydney for work, that are racking up thousands of dollars in toll bills a year – they can’t afford it anymore.”
Quotes attributable to John Graham, NSW Shadow Minister for Roads:
“The financial impact of tolls is not just on households but also on small businesses, including truckers and tradies.”
“Truck drivers and other heavy vehicles currently pay triple the tolls of other drivers on most roads.”
“Truck drivers are concerned about the unsustainable increases of toll prices, and the unjustifiably high rates they are required to pay as heavy vehicle drivers, in order to do their jobs.”
CHRIS MINNS MP
NSW LABOR LEADER
JOHN GRAHAM MLC
NSW DEPUTY LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
NSW SHADOW MINISTER FOR ROADS
