The Minns government will not scrap refunds for motorists who use the M5 motorway in Sydney’s south-west or its new $60-weekly toll cap, despite a highly anticipated review into the city’s road network finding that toll relief is inadequately targeted and underutilised.

The interim independent review, led by former competition watchdog chief Allan Fels, found that toll reform is preferable to relief, which the report says is expensive and more likely to be claimed by drivers from middle and high-income households.

Fels released his report on Monday with a range of recommendations, including using legislation to allow the government to take back control of tolls and giving the independent pricing regulator “significant oversight” in setting the price of tolls.

The report also recommended charging motorists less the longer they drive on toll roads, and two-way tolling on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Harbour Tunnel and Eastern Distributor.

Premier Chris Minns did not commit to any recommendations but immediately ruled out changes to the M5 cashback scheme or its toll cap, which was an election commitment.

The M5 cashback scheme was introduced in 1995 by former Labor premier Bob Carr as a face-saving measure after his government could not honour an election promise to axe tolls on the motorway.

“It [the cap] is fully funded for the next two years. It’s an important part of an interim measure so that motorists in western Sydney know that they’re not going to get a raw deal while we work through the mess that’s been left to us by the previous government,” Minns said.

Any changes to tolls or relief measures needed to be considered through the prism of whether “the vast majority of voters would be better off as a result,” Minns said.

QOSHE - The ‘non-negotiable’ Sydney tolling laws Minns won’t back down on - Alexandra Smith
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The ‘non-negotiable’ Sydney tolling laws Minns won’t back down on

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11.03.2024

The Minns government will not scrap refunds for motorists who use the M5 motorway in Sydney’s south-west or its new $60-weekly toll cap, despite a highly anticipated review into the city’s road network finding that toll relief is inadequately targeted and underutilised.

The interim independent review, led by former competition watchdog chief Allan Fels, found that toll reform is preferable to relief, which the report says is........

© The Sydney Morning Herald


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