$254 living allowance for 350,000 Australians: “It’s hard for them”
Nearly $80 million in toll refunds await New South Wales motorists, with some motorists in the state eligible to receive thousands of dollars in cash from the government’s cost-of-living package.
The New South Wales government introduced a toll cap earlier this year, meaning motorists only have to pay a maximum weekly amount of $60 on toll roads and can claim back the excess amount each quarter. Refunds are capped at $340 per week.
According to the New South Wales Government, more than 6,000 motorists will receive an average of $4,000 in assistance this year. The second quarterly application period is now open, with an estimated 350,000 motorists eligible to receive a share of the $53 million in assistance.
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The largest average toll rebate was received by drivers in Auburn at $554, followed by Lakemba at $513 and Wiley Park at $461. For all drivers in NSW, the average refund is $254.
“We know families and households are struggling and I am pleased that the $60 toll cap will have an impact on the people most affected by the toll,” said Prime Minister Chris Minns.
He noted that the targeted relief was “fundamentally necessary” while the government worked on a more comprehensive toll reform.
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A final report by the Independent Toll Review, led by Professor Allan Fels and Dr David Cousins, found that Sydney’s toll road network had numerous different pricing structures and that motorists would pay $195 billion in tolls over the next three and a half decades.
Roads Minister John Graham said the average refund of $254 would be “welcomed by families from Marsden Park to Merrylands, from West Pennant Hills to Wiley Park”.
Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Jihad Dib urged road users to visit the Service NSW website to check if they are eligible for toll refunds and to link their toll account to their MyServiceNSW account.
“Drivers will be surprised at how much they can claim with a $60 toll cap. This can ease cost-of-living pressures on households,” Dib said.
How to apply for toll refund
Drivers who have spent more than $60 per week on tolls since January 1 can apply for a refund through the Service NSW website.
The discount is calculated and applied for quarterly. Currently, applications can be made for the first quarter from January 1 to March 31 and for the second quarter from April 1 to June 30.
Toll refunds for 2024 can be requested until June 30, 2025.
The government is also offering a toll rebate. Drivers can apply for a 40 percent refund if they spend more than $402 on tolls between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024. The application deadline is June 30, 2025.
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