CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE TRANSPORT COST RELIEF FOR COMMERCIAL OPERATORS

By Paul Nicolaou | Executive Director, Business Sydney | Mob: 0419 400 038

Business Sydney today called for the NSW Government to immediately review the road tolling system for commercial operators and implement targeted cost relief.

Executive Director Paul Nicolaou said existing toll cap arrangements should be extended to commercial operators including taxi and rideshare providers.

He said businesses were being squeezed by increased fuel costs and toll charges.

“We need a fair approach that recognises the critical role these commercial operators play in keeping our city functioning,” Mr Nicolaou said.

“Without intervention, we risk losing capacity, increasing prices and weakening Sydney’s economic competitiveness.”

The combined impact of rising tolls and high fuel prices was placing unsustainable pressure on Sydney’s transport-reliant industries, with flow-on effects for businesses and consumers across the city.

From Wednesday, toll increases across major Sydney motorways, including the Eastern Distributor, NorthConnex, Hills M2 and Westlink M7, would further drive up operating costs for taxis, rideshare services, private bus operators, couriers, and freight and logistics companies.

The cumulative cost burden was pushing many operators to the brink.

“Sydney’s transport-dependent industries are being hit from all sides. Rising tolls, record fuel prices and increasing regulatory costs are creating a perfect storm for taxis, rideshare drivers, couriers and freight operators,” Mr Nicolaou said. 

“For many small business operators and drivers, these are not marginal increases. They are the difference between staying viable and going out of business.” 

Taxi and rideshare drivers were among the hardest hit, as they are excluded from the NSW Government’s toll relief cap, which currently applies only to private motorists.

Mr Nicolaou said it was fundamentally unfair that commercial drivers who keep Sydney moving were excluded from toll caps.

A taxi driver or Uber operator could spend hundreds of dollars a week on tolls alone, with no relief in sight. 

The rising cost of doing business was also being felt across the supply chain, with courier and freight companies facing increased delivery costs that were ultimately passed on to consumers.

“Every additional dollar spent on tolls and fuel flows through the economy. It increases the cost of deliveries, raises prices for goods and services, and adds to the broader cost-of-living pressures facing households,” Mr Nicolaou said. 

“Private bus operators and transport providers servicing schools, events and corporate clients are also grappling with escalating overheads, making it increasingly difficult to maintain competitive pricing.

“Sydney is already one of the most expensive cities in the world to operate a vehicle due to its extensive toll road network. These latest increases only reinforce that position and risk undermining the efficiency of our transport and logistics systems.”
 

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