Lasting relief for motorists as ongoing $60 toll cap begins

Toll relief becomes permanent today in the form of the Minns Labor Government’s signature cost-of-living measure for motorists – the $60 weekly toll cap. 

Sydney became the most tolled city in the world under the Liberals, and the $60 cap has become a crucial safety net for drivers, particularly in Western Sydney, struggling under the pinch of privatised toll road bills. 

Claims for relief have reached 712,000 since the two-year trial began in January 2024, with 40 suburbs receiving more than $1 million each in total cash back. 

In total, $214 million in toll relief claims has been paid out, with Blacktown, Baulkham Hills, Auburn, Merrylands, Marsden Park, Castle Hill, Quakers Hill, Lakemba, Kellyville, and Bankstown the top suburbs for relief claimed. 

To ensure the toll cap is sustainable and fairer over the long term, the NSW Government will proceed with the introduction of two-way tolling on the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Tunnel when the Western Harbour Tunnel, which will be tolled in both directions, opens in late 2028 - continuing the direction set under the former Liberal government. 

This corrects a long-standing inequity: Western Sydney motorists pay rising tolls in both directions on all their motorways year after year, while tolls on the Harbour Bridge and Tunnel are one-way and did not increase once between 2009 and 2023. 

The truck multiplier rebate which has been providing relief to the freight industry by providing up to a third of their trip costs on the M5 East and M8, is being extended to June 2026. This will help to ensure the continued delivery of critical services. 

As a result of the Minns Labor Government’s toll reform agenda, negotiations with private toll road concessionaires have cleared the way for administration fees on toll notices to be scrapped from mid-2026. 

Getting a cluster of toll notices in the post with cumulative administration fees has been one of the big frustrations of drivers. In the 2024-25 financial year, 46 million toll notices with administration fees totalling $618 million were issued in relation to unpaid tolls on the Sydney toll road network. 

In the meantime, registered motorists have started receiving the first digital reminders when a toll goes unpaid, giving them the chance to pay even before a toll notice is sent out in the post. 

As part of reorienting the toll system to being customer-first, two additional voices will give greater customer support than ever before. 

Pauline Gatomé has been formally appointed as the NSW Motorways' Customer Advocate, to provide an independent voice for NSW toll road users and advocate for them. 

Additionally, from 5 January 2026, customers will be able to contact a new independent Ombudsman for free and impartial support with unresolved complaints about NSW toll road operators and toll service providers. The NSW Tollway Ombudsman will be the first independent tolling focused ombudsman in Australia and can be contacted from 5 January via www.nswtollwayombudsman.com.au. 

As of today, 1 January, toll prices of privately operated toll roads are also increasing as per regular price review and changes. 

The toll cap means no driver will pay more than $60 a week on personal trips (up to the fair-use limit of $400 per tag/licence plate). To ensure no misuse of the toll cap, a $5,000 annual limit is also being introduced.

Drivers who have spent more than $60 a week on toll trips are encouraged to visit the Service NSW website, link your toll account to your MyServiceNSW Account and claim if eligible. 

Minister for Transport John Graham said: 

“The former government left behind a $195 billion toll bill out to 2060 for NSW motorists. This is why an ongoing $60 weekly toll cap is such an important safety net for hundreds of thousands of drivers. 

“We are putting the nail in the coffin of ‘tollmania’ by working on multiple fronts to tilt the system back in favour of motorists, including the toll cap, scrapping administration fees from mid-year, going digital with communications to drivers and adding a truly independent Ombudsman and a Customer Advocate inside NSW Motorways.” 

Minister for Customer Service Jihad Dib said: 

“It’s great to see people in Western Sydney, in particular, taking advantage of the $60 weekly toll cap, with Blacktown, Baulkham Hills, Auburn and Merrylands each claiming $3 million-plus.

“If you are regularly travelling on toll roads, I encourage you to visit the Service NSW website to see if you’re eligible and make a claim.”  

Interim Chief Executive, NSW Motorways, Camilla Drover said: 

"The appointment of our Customer Advocate and Tollway Ombudsman are key markers of the achievements NSW Motorways has made to re-orient the tolling system and provide more support than ever to the tolling customers of NSW. 

“NSW Motorways is here to restore customer confidence in the system, and I am looking forward to working with Pauline to modernise it, to focus on customers.” 

NSW Motorways Customer Advocate, Pauline Gatomé said: 

"I look forward to providing a continued and dedicated focus representing NSW motorists as the tolling system is reshaped. Customers can be assured their needs will be actively championed and represented as reforms take place."