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A political organisation has launched its own independent inquiry into traffic fine and tolling systems in one of Australia’s highest-revenue states after accusing Labor and Liberal governments of treating motorists “like a walking ATM.”
The NSW Libertarian Party announced the probe this week over social media, arguing NSW drivers are being squeezed from every direction.
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“They want you to believe that the endless mountain of fees, tolls, taxes, and skyrocketing fines are about ‘safety.’ Let’s call it what it is: a blatant, shameless revenue grab,” the party wrote on Facebook.
The party says their inquiry will expose the government’s “true motives,” with plans to slash excessive fees, axe hidden taxes, and “put real safety ahead of revenue.”
“It is time to end the war on cars and give NSW motorists their hard-earned money back,” the party said.
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“You are taxed to buy the vehicle, taxed to register it, taxed to fuel it, and forced to pay exorbitant tolls on roads your tax dollars already funded. Predatory cameras hit you with massive fines for minor technicalities.”
In the 2024–25 financial year alone, NSW collected over $1 billion in revenue after handing out more than 3.4 million fines to drivers across the state.
Over the past five years, total fine revenue has topped $5.8 billion.
Toll revenue in NSW is said to top $2bn a year, in Victoria that figure is around $1bn, in Queensland it is about $520m.
Motor vehicle tax is said to net the states and territories more than $3bn a year.
It is estimated, total annual revenue across all Australian states and territories from driving fines, tolls and motor vehicle taxes is close to $9bn.
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It appears people are on board with the idea, with many saying the system causes more danger than it prevents.
“I spend more time looking down at the speedometer than the road. It is very dangerous,” one driver wrote.
“I don’t know how a lot of people can afford these fines. Particularly annoying and stressful when you just accidentally go a few kilometres over the limit,” said another.
Not everyone agrees, with some backing the current system.
“I think NSW does speed enforcement better than other states. If you’re so inattentive you don’t see a bunch of speed camera ahead signs, you deserve to be dinged,” one person hit back.
Many people were also quick to point out that “speed cameras are okay” if people didn’t speed.
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