Governments Exceeding The Limit On Motorists' Costs

Sydney Morning Herald

Tuesday March 22, 2005

It's time we motorists stood up to the Government. A toll road to Queensland is a bit over the top. Add up what we already pay: registration, licence, insurance and GST on parts, tyres, oil and petrol, sales tax, import duty, luxury tax (if you can afford a fancy car) and tolls everywhere.

Peter Costello says he has billions of dollars in the surplus, but the Federal Government has contributed only a paltry $600 million into the Pacific Highway construction agreement.

Why don't John Howard and Bob Carr pool their billions and give us some decent roads, free of tolls?

If all the motorists said "enough is enough" and sold their cars, the governments would go broke.

Give us a fair go.

K. Thompson Lithgow

The federal and state governments are colluding to charge a toll on the busiest road between two capital cities in Australia. Surely the citizens of this area deserve better as they pay buckets of cash for some of the dearest petrol in NSW. This affects every purchase they make through extra freight, plus GST. What are their parliamentary representatives doing for them?

Come on, Bob, demand your state's GST to stop the rot. Tell John Howard you will secede from the Commonwealth if you don't get a fair go. Demand the $3 billion owing.

Ian McIntyre Armidale

A dual carriageway, four-lane highway between Sydney and Brisbane is way overdue, having been promised more than 20 years ago. How many more people must die before it is completed?

How much more will the North Coast (and the nation's) economy be strangled? I would happily pay a toll of $50 or more, but I want autobahn standards, with a speed limit of not less than 130 kmh.

I do not want a satellite-controlled toll system - this is not only the forerunner to vehicle control by authority but an invasion of privacy. If the GST on fuel and vehicle expenses was dedicated to new road building it could be completed in two or three years. Let's do it. Now.

Michael Lane St Ives

© 2005 Sydney Morning Herald

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