A New Tax Slug For Melbourne Motorists…CBD A No-Go Zone?

Melbourne motorists are feeling like a hunted species today.

Many will have endured significant delays in the current freeway widening works, bought their morning coffee and newspaper only to read the State Labor Government may evaluate a London-style $5 congestion tax for cars entering the CBD.

Meanwhile, the Green Party contesting the upcoming Melbourne City Council elections wants cars to become a minority niche form of transport in the city.

A tax slug ($2 for entering the suburbs which ring the CBD and another $3 for entering the inner-city) is part of a ’30-year vision’ contained in a report by Infrastructure Victoria.

The so-called ‘Transport Pricing Scheme’ addresses the report’s finding that Victoria can no longer just keep building/upgrading roads to address traffic congestion.

Modeling for the report concludes the extra tax on city motorists could cut city traffic congestion by up to 35 percent.

Taxes