
Aussies sitting on $130m bonanza
NSW motorists are sitting on a $130m bonanza and have just over two weeks to claim it back in toll relief.
The NSW government last year introduced a $60-a-week cap on tolls and under the scheme motorists can claim back up to $340 every week per vehicle.
Since the cost-of-living measure was introduced by the Minns government, $139m has been claimed back by motorists, mostly in Sydney's western suburbs.
And the government said that a further $130m was sitting in its coffers unclaimed.
Sunday June 30 marks the final day that motorists can claim back excess tolls which were accrued in 2024.
According to government numbers, Blacktown, Baulkham Hills and Auburn are the suburbs hit hardest by tolls, with $2m in relief claimed in all three suburbs since the introduction of the scheme. Over $130m worth of unclaimed toll relief is sitting in NSW government coffers. NewsWire/Monique Harmer. Credit: News Corp Australia
Over $1m in toll relief has been claimed in a further 10 suburbs - Merrylands, Marsden Park, Castle Hill, Quakers Hill, Lakemba, Kellyville, Bankstown, Greystanes, West Pennant Hills and Punchbowl.
'The $60 toll cap is a critical cost-of-living support and I am pleased to see it has been laser-like in getting to where it is needed most, suburbs like Blacktown, Baulkham Hills, Marsden Park and Bankstown,' Transport minister John Graham said.
'These are the parts of western Sydney where paying a toll is not a choice and in many cases relying on public transport is not a viable choice either.'
Toll relief can be claimed via the Services NSW website.
Those needing extra assistance can visit a Service NSW centre or call 13 77 88.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


West Australian
3 hours ago
- West Australian
Australia Post debuts 'next generation' post offices as parcel deliveries boom
Australia Post will be ramping up its parcel collection process by introducing a post office entirely dedicated to parcels as online shopping continues to boom. Australia Post Parcels is a focused post office that allows customers to collect their deliveries, return and send parcels at any time. The service, which is opening in Fitzroy in Melbourne and Waterloo in Sydney, aims to streamline parcel collection, as well as sending and returning deliveries, with the help of 24/7 self-service desks and parcel lockers, which can be accessed with a one-time entry code via the Australia Post app. Those wishing to send or return parcels can access a vending machine stocked with packaging, stamps and other postage-related essentials, which are accessible 24/7. There will also be six to eight Australia Post employees on-site to assist customers at the post office, with trading hours extended to support growing customer demands. Australia Post executive general manager of retail, brand and marketing, Josh Bannister, said the new services would be a game-changer for Australians as parcel collection frequency increases. 'The number one reason why a customer visits a post office is to collect a parcel, so it's logical that we're making (Australia Post Parcels),' he told NewsWire. 'We're continuing to see the growth in parcel volumes, and this is really about moving with the customer and changing customer expectations to focus on a more seamless parcel experience.' He said more Australians are choosing to shop online than ever before, accelerating the need for easier parcel collection. '(Australia Post Parcel is) designed around how people use the postal network today, especially in response to the e-commerce boom,' he said. The dedicated post offices will feature a wall of parcel lockers, which are free to use and accessible 24/7. 'We're also looking at extending trading hours for assisted lodgements, and the lodgement of a parcel will be exactly the same as our customers are used to at our full-service post offices,' Mr Bannister said. Online shopping rates are continuing to grow across the country, with a record number of households shopping online every year. Australia Post research found 9.8m households turned to e-commerce in 2024 – a 2.3 per cent increase from last year. The majority of online shoppers are Millennials and Gen Z, who made up three-quarters of the demographic. 'With Aussies shopping more online than ever before, we're evolving our network to keep pace with how our customers are using postal services,' Mr Bannister said. As part of the trial, Australia Post has opened two Australia Post Parcels services available for customers in Victoria and NSW, one in Fitzroy and Waterloo. However, there are plans to open further dedicated parcel centres in Chadstone in Melbourne, St Leonard's in Sydney and in the Gold Coast. There are currently no plans to open Australia Post Parcels in regional areas, instead focusing on the metro regions of the country. 'We'll be monitoring how the trial locations perform and how and when customers use them and that will help us refine leanings,' Mr Bannister said. 'What we're really doing here is we've got a focused parcel experience to make it easier and more seamless for customers collect, send and return their parcels.'


Perth Now
3 hours ago
- Perth Now
Major change to Australia Post revealed
Australia Post will be ramping up its parcel collection process by introducing a post office entirely dedicated to parcels as online shopping continues to boom. Australia Post Parcels is a focused post office that allows customers to collect their deliveries, return and send parcels at any time. The service, which is opening in Fitzroy in Melbourne and Waterloo in Sydney, aims to streamline parcel collection, as well as sending and returning deliveries, with the help of 24/7 self-service desks and parcel lockers, which can be accessed with a one-time entry code via the Australia Post app. Austraia Post is unveiling a post office dedicated entirely to parcels. Supplied Credit: NewsWire Those wishing to send or return parcels can access a vending machine stocked with packaging, stamps and other postage-related essentials, which are accessible 24/7. There will also be six to eight Australia Post employees on-site to assist customers at the post office, with trading hours extended to support growing customer demands. Australia Post executive general manager of retail, brand and marketing, Josh Bannister, said the new services would be a game-changer for Australians as parcel collection frequency increases. 'The number one reason why a customer visits a post office is to collect a parcel, so it's logical that we're making (Australia Post Parcels),' he told NewsWire. 'We're continuing to see the growth in parcel volumes, and this is really about moving with the customer and changing customer expectations to focus on a more seamless parcel experience.' The new Australia Post Parcels will be a mix of self service and run by a team of Australia Post employees Supplied. Credit: NewsWire There will also be parcel lockers accessible 24/7. Credit: NewsWire He said more Australians are choosing to shop online than ever before, accelerating the need for easier parcel collection. '(Australia Post Parcel is) designed around how people use the postal network today, especially in response to the e-commerce boom,' he said. The dedicated post offices will feature a wall of parcel lockers, which are free to use and accessible 24/7. 'We're also looking at extending trading hours for assisted lodgements, and the lodgement of a parcel will be exactly the same as our customers are used to at our full-service post offices,' Mr Bannister said. Online shopping rates are continuing to grow across the country, with a record number of households shopping online every year. Australia Post research found 9.8m households turned to e-commerce in 2024 – a 2.3 per cent increase from last year. The majority of online shoppers are Millennials and Gen Z, who made up three-quarters of the demographic. 'With Aussies shopping more online than ever before, we're evolving our network to keep pace with how our customers are using postal services,' Mr Bannister said. There has been a major boom in online shopping in recent years. Supplied. Credit: NewsWire As part of the trial, Australia Post has opened two Australia Post Parcels services available for customers in Victoria and NSW, one in Fitzroy and Waterloo. However, there are plans to open further dedicated parcel centres in Chadstone in Melbourne, St Leonard's in Sydney and in the Gold Coast. There are currently no plans to open Australia Post Parcels in regional areas, instead focusing on the metro regions of the country. 'We'll be monitoring how the trial locations perform and how and when customers use them and that will help us refine leanings,' Mr Bannister said. 'What we're really doing here is we've got a focused parcel experience to make it easier and more seamless for customers collect, send and return their parcels.'


Perth Now
9 hours ago
- Perth Now
ASX flat on latest geopolitical tensions
Australia's sharemarket eked out a tiny gain during Monday afternoon's trading, thanks largely to energy stocks lifted by a spike in the oil and uranium price. The benchmark ASX 200 index finished slightly higher up just 1 point or 0.01 per cent to finish trading on Monday at 8,5484. The broader All Ordinaries have marginally finished in the green, adding 4.40 points or 0.05 per cent to 8,775.00. The Australian dollar rose during Monday's trading and is now buying 65.04 US cents. On a mixed day for the market, five of the 11 sectors finished higher led by the energy sector which soared a number of key announcements. The ASX 200 finished slightly higher on Monday. Photo: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard Credit: News Corp Australia The price of crude oil sharply rose over the weekend, after tensions between Iran and Israel saw the two nations firing missiles at each other. Shares in Woodside jumped 3 per cent to $25.96, Ampol also gained 0.19 per cent to $25.86 and Beach Energy jumped 1.92 per cent to $1.32. Santos shares were up 11 per cent to $7.72 after a UAE consortium-led takeover proposal for Santos to the tune of $28.87bn, as well as rising oil prices. IG market analyst Tony Sycamore said while the situation in the Middle East remained fluid, Israel's early successes in knocking out large parts of Iran's military was muting the jump in oil prices. 'There are fears that Iran may close the Strait of Hormuz, which would impact oil trade, as it is the primary route for oil exports from major OPEC producers like Saudi Arabia, Iraq, the UAE, and Kuwait,' Mr Sycamore said. 'This is viewed as a measure of last resort by Iran, as it would affect its main customers, China and India, and increase the likelihood of US military intervention.' Five of the 11 sectors jumped, lead by the energy sector. Photo: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard Credit: News Corp Australia Uranium stocks were also the major winners with Deep Yellow soaring 22.93 per cent to $1.59, Boss Energy gained 20.1 per cent to $4.42 and Paladin Energy also jumped 16.90 per cent to $7.36. 'There is an idea that there is going to be a $20bn investment in data centres over the next five years by a tech giant, which is giving the shares a boost,' he said. 'The second part of this is that the Spott Physical Uranium Trust will raise $US100m to buy the nuclear fuel.' While the energy stocks jumped, consumer staples were the biggest hit on fears of higher oil costs impacting these stocks costs. Woolworths shed 1.2 per cent to $31.80, Coles was 0.7 per cent off to $22.06, Treasury Wine and Endeavour Group dipped 2.4 per cent to $3.99. Treasury Wine Estates also fell 1.49 per cent to $7.93 while A2 Milk finished in the red down 1.24 per cent to $7.95. 'At the end of the day there is a risk of higher energy markets,' he said. 'If energy prices stay higher that flows into core prices because crude oil is the lifeblood of so much in terms of production and transportation cost.' In corporate news shares in Campervan group Tourism Holdings shares soared 56.04 per cent to $2.13 after announcing a $471m bid from BHP Capital. While shares in infant formula maker Bubs also finished strongly in the green up 6.25 per cent to $0.17 after telling the market it submitted clinical trial data to the US FDA under the New Infant Formula Submissions.