Transport cost help for cash-strapped state residents
Motorists in Australia’s most populous state will pay less for vehicle registration and save money on road tolls after months of intense hassle at Bowser.
The NSW government will also freeze public transport fares for 12 months; It was stated that this move was part of a comprehensive plan to combat the increasing cost of living.
The state budget released on Tuesday announced a $100 cut to vehicle registration fees, which can cost around $1000 in NSW, for about 4.4 million vehicles.
Motorcycle registrations will be reduced by $80 as part of the $561 million transportation affordability package.
“In this time of great global uncertainty, people are being told they are destined to be mere bystanders to major global events,” NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said in his budget speech.
“This is how we attack the cost of living crisis from every angle… This is what it’s like to choose our own destiny.”
The cost of registering a Toyota Corolla usually costs around $475, but after the rebate, that figure will drop to $375. Signing up for a BYD Shark will cost around $944, after which the discount drops to $844.
Of the 4.4 million vehicles eligible for registration discounts, approximately 1.9 million are in rural and regional areas.
Ahead of state elections in March, the government has also raised the bar on toll reductions by capping tolls at $50 for next year and eliminating the administration fee.
Approximately 1.13 million journeys are charged each day in NSW.
The state government capped tolls at $60 in its first state budget three years ago, before making them permanent in 2025/26.
Administrative fees, which can be around $10 per tip-off, cost NSW motorists around $60 million in 2025/26 and can often be twice the actual toll.
“For years those on the Sydney side were told that if they wanted new highways they had to accept privately owned toll roads…private operators collected the tolls (and) motorists paid the price,” Mr Mookhey said.
“One of the biggest rip-offs on our roads is the administration fee… We promise to continue our fight for a fairer deal for Sydney motorists.”
Meanwhile, more than 400,000 people who use NSW’s public transport system every day will benefit from the 2025 fare for 12 months.
The government will also spend $2.6 million to develop the FuelCheck app, which shows drivers fuel prices at gas stations across the state.
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