O'Farrell refuses to rule out congestion tax
Posted: Wednesday, 22 February 2012 | By: Robert Furolo
Sydney motorists face being slugged with a congestion tax just to travel into the city – after the O'Farrell Government today refused to rule out breaking its election promise and introducing a congestion tax.
"Prior to the election, Barry O'Farrell categorically ruled out forcing a congestion tax on motorists – yet today, he has confirmed it is well and truly back on the agenda," Opposition Leader, John Robertson said.
"This is a massive broken promise by the O'Farrell Government – introducing a congestion tax would see western and south western Sydney residents being taxed just so they can get to work each day during peak periods.
"Instead of building new roads and rail infrastructure to deal with congestion, Barry O'Farrell's solution is to tax motorists.
"This plan would hurt small business, workers and families who are just trying to make a living.
"Barry O'Farrell and Roads Minister Duncan Gay need to come clean today – where do they plan to slug motorists? On what roads? And, by how much?"
Shadow Minister for Roads and Ports, Robert Furolo said the O'Farrell Government's plan would hurt motorists who had no choice but to travel by car to work or school each day.
"The O'Farrell Government's plan to introduce a congestion tax will only hurt workers who have no choice but to drive to work and school each day during peak hour," Mr Furolo said.
"Few workers actually have the flexibility to change their working hours to save money on an extra congestion charge – you can't tax motorists for simply travelling to work.
"Workers travelling from western and south west Sydney would be hit hardest by a congestion tax – which would be added on top of tolls they are already paying for the M7, M2 and M5.
"If the O'Farrell Government really cared about the people of south west and western Sydney they would rule out introducing a congestion tax today."
Tags: Barry O'Farrell, Duncan Gay, John Robertson, roads, Robert Furolo, Sydney, tax, traffic