Labor has promised to scrap more than 50 million administration charges for Sydney toll road users that can range between $1.10 to $20 per notice.
When drivers use a toll road without a Linkt e-tag, or if their device isn’t detected, they will get a separate notice for each charge.
Each letter or email incurs its own charge of $1.10, or $2.20 for a second notice; however, fees increase to $10 or $20 if the driver doesn’t have an existing customer account with Linkt.
Opposition Leader Chris Minns described it as “tolls on their tolls” and claimed NSW drivers were hit with 50 million notices a year.
Sydney has the most toll roads in Australia, with 13 motorways that incur charges. In comparison, Queensland has six and Victoria three.
Administration fees can range from $1.10 to $20. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard
A similar plan has been used in Queensland, where Labor claims it saves drivers $36m a year.
“So just by consolidating the notices so you only get one in the mail rather than five or six letters indicating that you owe $10 each,” Mr Minns said.
“The extra admin costs associated with simply not filling in a form right or not having a consolidated notice means that hundreds of millions of dollars are being gouged out of the pockets of western Sydney families.”
Opposition roads spokesman John Graham said the government had “given up” on toll reform. Premier Dominic Perrottet confirmed in January that a tolling review commissioned by the government in April 2022 would not be released until after the election.
“Now the government says this (consolidating notices) is already in its own toll review. Unbelievably, after 12 years they haven’t acted on this,” Mr Graham said.
Opposition Leader Chris Minns described administration fees as a ‘toll on top of a tolls’. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard
Tolls have become a major election pitch to Sydney voters, with Labor pledging a $60 weekly toll cap for drivers and regular toll users in addition to the government’s 40 per cent rebates for motorists who spend more than $375 on toll roads.
Under the Coalition’s scheme, drivers can claim a maximum rebate of $750, with benefits capped at $1875, which equates to a $36.06 weekly spend on tolls. If Labor wins government on March 25, the plan would begin from January 2024 for two years.
Mr Minns also pledged a wide-ranging toll review that will be conducted by former Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chairman Alan Fels.
Mr Minns said nothing would be “off the table,” including potential new “legislation to bundling bills”.
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