[Greens-Media] Toll hike: gouge motorway owners, not motorists

[Lee Rhiannon]

Media Release 
1 April 2008


Toll hike: gouge motorway owners, not motorists

Responding to today*s toll hike across three Sydney motorways Greens
MP and transport spokesperson Lee Rhiannon called on the NSW government
to bring in a toll freeze and tax tollway operators to fund more public
transport options.  
 
*Today*s bad news transport story is the toll increases on three
Sydney motorways. Blame again lies with the NSW government,* Ms
Rhiannon said. 

*The Eastern Distributor toll rises by 50 cents today to $5, while
the Cross City Tunnel toll rises by 46 cents to $3.96. The Lane Cove
Tunnel toll is now $2.62 after a rise of 2 cents.

*The NSW government should stop motorway companies from gouging
commuters to boost their profits to make up for flawed traffic
forecasts.

*The way to achieve this is with a freeze on motorways tolls and a
tax on the profits of the operators. 
 
*The NSW Labor government signed contracts that allow tollway
operators to milk Sydney commuters. 

*Many travellers have no option but to use these tollways because of
the lack of public transport.

*Premier Morris Iemma needs a long term plan for these motorways. 

*With looming oil shortages and petrol price increases, Sydney*s
motorway network will become a monument to failed transport planning. 

*The government*s responsibility is to build more pubic transport
options not to pander to greedy companies,* Ms Rhiannon said. 



For more information:  Lee Rhiannon - 9230 3551, 0427 861 568