Source : Perth Now news
Some motorists in one state will likely benefit from a cash boost after an upcoming election, as the major parties go toe-to-toe in competing road-toll schemes.
Victorian Labor on Sunday unveiled a pledge to cap road tolls at $30 a week in 2027 if it holds onto power in November.
Labor says the $191 million commitment could save individuals and small businesses as much as $5000 per vehicle from January 1.
Cars, motorbikes, and light commercial vehicles such as utes and vans will be eligible for the 12-month, $30 toll cap for travel on Victoria’s three toll roads – CityLink, EastLink and the West Gate Tunnel.
The maximum rebate claim would be $350 per week, with small businesses eligible to apply for cash back on up to five vehicles.
The government estimates the toll cap would save a motorist who travels the full EastLink route every weekday $2500, while a ute driver using the full CityLink arterial five days a week could claim $5000.
A family or business with three cars could claim up to $15,000 across the year.
”A measure like this isn’t sustainable long-term – but it’s needed in the short-term,” Roads Minister Paul Hamer said.
The hip pocket pledge bears a stark resemblance to a coalition pledge in August to cap road tolls at $50 per week over two years.
The coalition’s $180 million pledge would kick in from July 1, 2027, and could save drivers up up to $3000 a year per vehicle.
Tolls would continue to be paid as normal under both pledges, but drivers would be able to claim a rebate each quarter through Service Victoria.
Motorists who drive without an e-Tag are currently slugged an extra $16 for toll operators to post a toll bill in the mail.
That administration fee would also be scrapped under both pitches, with the Carroll government vowing to change the law to notify drivers electronically, while the coalition committed to a broad review of tolling arrangements.
One Nation is yet to unveil a dedicated policy specifically targeting road tolls.
Labor continues to trail the coalition in the polls, with its primary vote flatlining at 25 per cent for the third straight month, according to the latest Resolve Political Monitor conducted in October and published by Nine newspapers.
Support for the coalition bumped one percentage point to 28 per cent, while primary support for One Nation also plateaued, at 23 per cent.
One Nation’s deputy leader in Victoria, Colleen Harkin, on Friday proclaimed the right-wing populist party was prepared to “work with anybody to remove Labor”.
However, Opposition Leader Jess Wilson has consistently rejected the idea of entering a coalition with One Nation.
