Latest news with #tollcap
Daily Mail
12 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
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.
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
$130 million cash boost waiting to be claimed by thousands of Aussie drivers: 'Critical support'
Thousands of drivers in Sydney only have a few days left to claim their share of a substantial cash pile. The NSW government has a $60 weekly cap for road tolls, and anything you spend over that amount is eligible to be reclaimed. Drivers can receive upwards of $340 per week back through this initiative, however, the deadline to submit your claim for 2024 is June 30. The government estimates there are around $130 million worth of claims between January 1 last year and March this year that are up for grabs. "The positive difference this is making to peoples' lives is something we, as a government, are proud of," Jihad Dib, Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government, said. Centrelink issues urgent deadline warning for lump sum payment ATO superannuation warning as deadline for $30,000 deduction fast approaches Aussie mum's $1,200 electricity bill shock sparks warning for millions More than $139 million has already been distributed to drivers for 2024 alone. Blacktown, Baulkham Hills and Auburn were the first three Sydney suburbs where driver have received $2 million in rebates. There are 10 other suburbs where claims have exceeded $1 NSW government said the $60 cap, which was introduced in 2023, has been most beneficial to people in the western suburbs who have to commute into the city every day. '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. 'June 30 is the last day to claim toll relief that was accrued in calendar year 2024, and we want to remind people that the claims process is a simple, online process." Drivers who have spent more than $60 a week on toll trips can claim the refunds via the Service NSW website. The rebate is calculated and claimed each quarter. Claims are currently open for the first quarter from January 1 to March 31, and the second quarter from April 1 to June 30. Applications for the second quarter of 2025 will open on July 9. The deadline for 2025 rebates has been set for June 30, 2026. The government also offers a toll relief rebate, with drivers able to claim a 40 per cent rebate if they spent more than $402 on tolls between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024. Those claims also close on June 30 this in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data
