The Transport Workers’ Union (TWU) has responded to Transurban’s latest toll road price increases for Sydney roads, condemning the company for the hike.
The New South Wales branch of the TWU says Transurban is continuing to pursue profit at the expense of the state’s trucking industry.
From January 1 this year, toll prices rose by up to $1.17 for heavy vehicles and $0.44 for passenger vehicles on key routes such as the Hills M2, Lane Cove Tunnel and the Eastern Distributor.
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These price rises come despite an independent toll review conducted by Professor Allan Fels that projected that Sydney motorists will pay $195 billion in tolls over the next 35 years.
TWU NSW state secretary Richard Olsen has responded to the price hike by calling for toll system reform in NSW to mitigate social inequities.
“As transport workers and owner-drivers face stagnant wages and rising costs, these toll increases are unacceptable and reflect a corporate greed that prioritises profits over the well-being of the community,” Olsen says.
“It’s time for Transurban to recognise that their profit-driven approach is hurting the very people who keep our cities moving. These toll hikes are unsustainable and unjustified.
“We call on the NSW government to intervene and ensure that toll pricing remains fair and transparent, preventing Transurban from exploiting its monopoly at the expense of Sydney’s commuters and essential transport workers.”
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