NSW Labor today lodged a petition in NSW Parliament calling on the Government to scrap the unfair new toll on the M5 East, which motorists can ill-afford during the ongoing recession.
The petition collected more than 10,000 signatures, forcing a debate on the issue in Parliament.
Since July, motorists have been slapped with a toll of $6.95 each way on the M5 East – a road that’s been free since it opened in 2001 and has not been upgraded.
The toll will cost drivers more than $3,300 a year and will increase by at least 4 percent every year for the next 40 years.
The new toll comes at a terrible time for motorists who are already struggling during the worst economic downturn since World War II.
A slew of Labor MPs have joined the attack on the government over the toll.
The state member for Macquarie Fields, Anoulack Chanthivong, pictured above left with a local resident, says the Berejiklian Government has betrayed motorists In South Western Sydney by giving Transurban the rights to toll the M5 East as part of the sale of WestConnex – making motorists pay to use an old road.
“We are in the middle of an economic recession and the Liberal Party’s heartless response is to collect more tolls,” he said.
“This is a blatant cash grab on motorists who are struggling financially during the pandemic.”
The Labor MP for Kogarah, Chris Minns said: “The impact of this reckless decision on local roads has been devastating.
“Toll roads and tunnels were once designed to reduce surface traffic. This has done the exact opposite.
“Local tradies and families feel betrayed by a Liberal Government that promised it would reduce the cost of living, not radically increase it.’’
Liverpool MP Paul Lynch also chimed in on the Labor attack on the government over the toll.
“This is an unfair new toll on an old road. The Berejiklian Government should be ashamed of itself.”
Labor’s shadow minister for roads John Graham said: “Sydney has become one of the highest tolled cities on earth. This toll will hurt families that are doing it tough and make it harder for truckies and tradies to do business.”
Federal Labor MP Anne Stanley [Werriwa] said: “I am overwhelmed by the number of stories I’ve heard about the difficulties this new unfair toll is causing families and workers. Paying for a road that already exists to prop up the budget mistakes is another blow to South Western Sydney residents.”
