The New South Wales government will lower the weekly road toll cap from $60 to $50 for one year as part of cost of living measures handed down today in the 2026-27 state budget.
In advance of today’s budget, the Minns government has announced that the threshold for the cap, under which drivers can claim back from the government after they spend $60 per vehicle, will be lowered to $50 for the 12 months from July 6, a saving of $10 a week for motorists who already claim toll relief. Tolls on multiple roads managed by private operator Transurban will rise on July 1, leaving them on average more than 4% higher since July 2025.
The NSW transport minister, John Graham, says:
“Almost 950,000 toll account holders have sought and received cash back under the ... $60 toll cap and by reducing the cap to $50 there will be 200,000 more joining them.”
In addition, the government has confirmed the scrapping of tolling administration fees - issued by post to people without a tolling account when they drive on a toll road - will take place in July after the policy was announced in December last year, following a commitment before the March 2023 election.
The state’s treasurer, Daniel Mookhey, has told Guardian Australia this year’s budget will include public transport fare relief. The state did not follow Victoria in making fares free amid the fallout from the US and Israel’s war in Iran, despite pressure from the NSW opposition, who have also repeatedly called on the government to fund new metro rail projects.
Mookhey says this year’s budget will be about about “relief, reform and discipline”, after the state’s growth forecast for 2026-27 dropped from 2.5% to 1% amid rising inflation and the global oil shock. We have reporters inside the budget lockup this morning, and will bring you the rest of the key announcements when the treasurer gives his speech at 12.30pm.
