Ben Carroll Pledges $30 Weekly Caps on Tolls and Fares

Premier Ben Carroll and the Labor government announced a series of cost-of-living measures including $30 weekly caps on both road tolls and public transport fares starting January 1, 2027. The tolling scheme, costing $191 million, allows motorists and small businesses with vehicles under 4.5 tonnes to claim rebates via the Service Victoria app, potentially saving users up to $5,000 annually over one year. Labor also pledged to eliminate administration fees for drivers without e-tags by removing paper notice requirements.

The public transport cap is a two-year initiative ending in December 2028, estimated to cost $206 million. This follows a period of half-price fares implemented during a fuel crisis linked to the US-Iran war. To fund these measures, the government announced a $15 million plan to consolidate contact centers, including Worksafe and the TAC, under Service Victoria, and will cap public sector barrister fees.

Opposition Leader Jess Wilson dismissed the toll cap as an imitation of the Coalition's proposal for a $50 weekly cap and argued that Labor's record on increasing tolls makes the pledge untrustworthy. Greens leader Ellen Sandell criticized the transport cap as a temporary discount with an expiry date, calling instead for entirely free public transport to improve reliability and accessibility.