Victorian Labor promises to cap tolls at $30 a week if re-elected

The plan would cover CityLink, EastLink and the West Gate Tunnel for all of 2027, ahead of the November election.

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Victorian Labor has promised to cap tolls at $30 a week for all of 2027 if it wins the November state election. The cap would cover CityLink, EastLink and the West Gate Tunnel in Melbourne, Australian Associated Press reported. Drivers would pay their tolls as usual. They would then get money back every three months through Service Victoria. Labor says the plan would cost $191 million. It says it could save drivers "as much as $5000 per vehicle". About 200,000 account holders could benefit, Labor says. Utes and vans are included. Small businesses could claim for up to five vehicles. Roads Minister Paul Hamer said the cap "isn't sustainable long-term - but it's needed in the short-term." Opposition Leader Jess Wilson called the promise "five minutes to midnight". The Coalition announced its own plan in August. It would cap tolls at $50 a week for two years from 1 July 2027, at a cost of $180 million. It is not yet known how many drivers would actually claim the money back.