Aussie drivers dealt brutal cost-of-living blow as state backflips on huge promise
Sydney motorists are set to lose a key cost-of-living perk, with the NSW government scrapping the $60 weekly toll cap from January 2026.
The decision, revealed in the latest state budget, marks a major backflip for Premier Chris Minns and the Labor government, who previously slammed the Coalition's toll network as 'toll mania'.
The toll cap scheme, introduced on January 1, 2024, has so far delivered more than $139million in rebates to drivers, many from western Sydney.
Suburbs such as Blacktown, Baulkham Hills and Auburn each received over $2million in toll refunds, with more than 6,300 claims lodged in Blacktown alone.
Greystanes residents have made over 3,800 claims worth $1.2million, and Seven Hills has over 2,500 claims for more than $928,000 in rebates.
Minns, while in Opposition in 2022, had declared 'toll roads are out of control in Sydney'.
His proposed $60 weekly cap was a central election promise, aimed at easing the toll burden for over 50,000 drivers.
But this week in Parliament, the Labor government confirmed the popular scheme would not be funded beyond 2025.
'In the end, it is a very expensive program. We cannot afford to do everything,' Transport Minister John Graham said during Question Time.
While Graham indicated the government was still considering broader toll reform, he shifted blame for the current situation to the former Liberal government, criticising their long-term agreements with private toll operators.
'I applaud the lawyers the former Government must have employed to lock up those watertight contracts,' he quipped, referencing deals that won't expire until 2060.
An independent review into tolling, commissioned by the government, recommended several key changes, including giving the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) authority over future toll increases.
The recent state budget allocates $10million to bolster IPART's role as the state's toll price monitor.
A further $9.4million has been earmarked to continue negotiations with private toll road operators, as the government looks for long-term solutions to Sydney's complex tolling network.
A similar toll relief scheme was introduced in 2022 by then Liberal Premier Dominic Perrottet, which saw up to $750 a year paid back to drivers.
In his budget-in-reply speech on Thursday, NSW Opposition Leader Mark Speakman called for the government to extend its toll relief deadline beyond June 30.
Speakman also said the government needed to 'come clean' on its long-term plans for toll relief.
NSW drivers have until Monday to apply for toll relief for the 2023/24 financial year and can do so through Service NSW.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
31 minutes ago
- Reuters
Virgin Australia can ride out Middle East volatility, private equity boss says
SYDNEY, June 26 (Reuters) - Bain Capital partner Mike Murphy is confident Virgin Australia's ( opens new tab domestic business focus will help the airline withstand travel disruptions and oil price volatility created by the ongoing Middle East tensions. Bain, which bought Virgin for A$3.5 billion ($2.3 billion)including liabilities in 2020, raised A$685 million when Australia's second largest airline relisted on the Australian Securities Exchange on Tuesday. The private equity firm's stake was reduced in the initial public offering to 39.4% from about 70%. Virgin's debut on the ASX came hours after Qatar shut its airspace and prompted the airline to divert two Qatar-bound flights after Iranian missiles were fired at a U.S. base in the state. Virgin started Doha flights earlier this month under a lease deal with Qatar Airways which owns 23% of the carrier. "Our view on Middle East and oil is that as tricky as those issues are for an airline we're pretty well placed geographically and strategically in terms of the domestic focus to be assured as you could be being in this sector," Murphy told Reuters by telephone. "From an oil price volatility perspective, we're very comprehensively hedged out in the short to medium term." Virgin said in an exchange filing on Tuesday it has hedged 98% of its anticipated fuel usage in Brent crude oil at a cap of $70 per barrel for the first half of 2026. It has hedged 86% of its anticipated fuel usage at the same price in the second half. Virgin holds a domestic flight market share of 34.4% as of March versus Qantas' 37.5%, a recent report from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission showed. Murphy said the decision made under Bain's ownership to pare back its international routes to be mainly a domestic carrier had strengthened Virgin's balance sheet and profitability. "Long-haul international was not a part of the business that ever made money ... those strategic decisions that the company of that era made resulted in a pretty overstretched balance sheet, a very weak set of margins," Murphy said. Virgin shares closed on Thursday at A$3.25, up 12% from the IPO price of A$2.90. ($1 = 1.5286 Australian dollars)
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Masseuse takes drastic step to deal with gross act from one particular group of customers
An Aussie massage studio has outright banned male clients after repeatedly getting inappropriate calls and comments about whether it would offer sexual services. Eternal Energy Healing and Wellness owner, Kessley Ham, 39, announced on Wednesday the South Perth business would only cater to women going forward. She said some of her workers, in their 20s, had been made to feel uncomfortable while working alone at night in the Charles Street studio, and it had got to the point where her staff were complaining of feeling 'sick'. Ms Ham told Daily Mail Australia staff had grappled with the issue alone until she opened up about men calling to make lewd comments and inappropriate requests. This led to uncomfortable discussion between all of her staff and the new rule. 'I've been receiving some pretty frequent calls and (men) just message you and ask for a sensual massage or, like not a lot of them say it directly, and they often come with a bunch of other questions first and then at the end say something inappropriate,' she said. 'And you're just like, 'oh God, I just wasted like how long talking to this person when they were just after a rub and tug'. 'From my website and Instagram, it's pretty clear that is not the type of business that I have. Those types of businesses are really easy to find, I don't understand why you would be contacting me instead.' Ms Ham said she confided in another staff member earlier in the week after becoming fed-up with the calls and beginning to blame herself for 'sounding too nice'. Her staff then informed her they had been made to feel uncomfortable in the studio during late-night sessions while the other businesses in her building were closed. 'There was apparently someone who groaned for the entire massage and like writhed around on the table, you know orgasm style,' Ms Ham said. '(He) kept making weird comments about his underwear being uncomfortable and being twisted and was just saying it over and over again. '(He) then wanted to speak to his massage therapist about his sex life – and this was at night time when all the other businesses in our building are closed and there's no one else there.' She said the therapists on Tuesday reported other unprofessional interactions which had taken place during massages and decided it had gone 'too far'. 'You can enjoy a massage without making it sexual and it's just it's not the kind of thing that I want myself to have to deal with,' she said. 'It was literally the next day that I was like that's it.' She said the comments were 'relentless', and the allusions were the kind that just makes you 'tense up'. The studio received multiple daily inquiries for 'sensual massages', Ms Ham said (pictured, the business's announcement on Wednesday) Eternal Energy Healing and Wellness opened about a year ago. It deals in specialised massage techniques. The treatments include ASMR-style sessions and massages drawing on Ms Ham's Ayurvedic background. Ms Ham said she would still honour current bookings for male clients. Gift cards that had already been purchased would also still be honoured. Ms Ham announced the ban in a statement posted to social media. 'Due to the relentless inappropriate requests I receive online and some incidents in the studio that have made my staff feel uncomfortable and unsafe I have made the decision to make Eternal Energy a Women's only establishment,' it read. 'We are still welcoming of trans women and non-binary individuals.'
The Sun
3 hours ago
- The Sun
Families can get FREE white goods worth £400 or extra £500 cost of living cash this summer
STRUGGLING families could be in for a much-needed summer boost. An extra £500 in free cash or white goods worth £400 are now up for grabs. 1 The money is part of the Brent Resident Support Fund (RSF), a council-run scheme aimed at helping residents hit hardest by the cost of living crisis. From food and fuel bills to mental health support and council tax arrears, the fund is designed to give a lifeline to those finding it tough to keep up with everyday expenses. And the best part is that those who qualify, don't have to pay a penny back. You could get help covering the cost of essentials like blankets, sanitary items, boiler repairs or even score a brand new washing machine or fridge if you've just moved into an unfurnished property. There's a cap of £400 for white goods, while the total payout for any one household is up to £500. But you'll have to act fast and make sure you meet the criteria. Who is eligible? To qualify, you need to: Live in Brent Be aged 18 or over Have less than £6,000 in savings Be struggling with day-to-day costs or facing an emergency Only one application is allowed per couple every 12 months, so if your partner's already applied this year, you'll need to wait your turn. To apply, you'll need to show recent bank statements for both you and your partner (if you have one), plus a recent utility bill. Families can get FREE washing machines, fridges and kids' beds or £200 payments this summer – and you can apply now If you're applying for help with internet access or tech, you'll need to use a separate digital form. You can fill out the application online and if you get stuck, Brent Customer Services are on hand to help you through it. The RSF is funded by Brent Council and the government's Household Support Fund, which has been extended to help Brits through another tough year of rising costs. Household Support Fund explained Sun Savers Editor Lana Clements explains what you need to know about the Household Support Fund. If you're battling to afford energy and water bills, food or other essential items and services, the Household Support Fund can act as a vital lifeline. The financial support is a little-known way for struggling families to get extra help with the cost of living. Every council in England has been given a share of £421million cash by the government to distribute to local low income households. Each local authority chooses how to pass on the support. Some offer vouchers whereas others give direct cash payments. In many instances, the value of support is worth hundreds of pounds to individual families. Just as the support varies between councils, so does the criteria for qualifying. Many councils offer the help to households on selected benefits or they may base help on the level of household income. The key is to get in touch with your local authority to see exactly what support is on offer. And don't delay, the scheme has been extended until April 2025 but your council may dish out their share of the Household Support Fund before this date. Once the cash is gone, you may find they cannot provide any extra help so it's crucial you apply as soon as possible. It comes as more families turn to local authorities for help amid rocketing food prices, energy bills and housing costs. To check if you're eligible and start your application, visit and search for the Resident Support Fund. What if you don't live in Brent? The £742million Household Support Fund has been allocated to councils across England to help residents facing financial hardship. You do not need to live in Brent to apply. If you're on a low income, receiving benefits, or struggling to afford essentials, you may be eligible for support. The type of help available varies by area and may include cash payments, food vouchers, or help with energy bills. Applications are handled by local councils. Some have already opened their schemes, while others are expected to launch soon. Residents are advised to check their local council's website or social media for updates. Many councils have dedicated Household Support Fund pages with details on how to apply. In some cases, councils may contact eligible households directly by post.
