With tolls on many motorways in Sydney rising much faster than wages, Labor is demanding the government reveal its intentions for the Harbour Tunnel when the concession expires in August next year after three decades of tolling.
"The government needs to come clean and be clear with the residents of NSW. Will they be paying a toll[for the tunnel] and how high will it be?"Labor roads spokesman John Graham said.
Leaked documents marked "cabinet in confidence" in 2017 revealed that the government was looking at imposing $3 tolls for cars on northbound journeys of the Harbour Tunnel and Harbour Bridge to help pay for the $14 billion cost of the Western Harbour Tunnel and Beaches Link. Under that scenario,tolls would also remain on southbound journeys.
At present,weekday tolls on southbound trips on the Harbour Bridge and tunnel range from $2.50 to $4 depending on the time of day.
"You would expect,given their history,that they are going to tie the Harbour Tunnel into some complex financial deal to fund the Western Harbour Tunnel and the Beaches Link,"Mr Graham said.
A spokesperson for Transport and Roads Minister Andrew Constance said any tolling information in relation to the Western Harbour Tunnel and Beaches Link projects would be"announced in due course".