Submission to Senate Committee Inquiry into Operations of existing and proposed toll roads in Australia This document contains the formal submission made by WestConnex Action Group Incorporated (WAG) to the aforementioned Inquiry. We would welcome the opportunity to appear before the Committee. We also urge the Committee to hold at least one hearing in Western Sydney so that its community has an opportunity to present its views. WAG is a community group made up of residents from across western, inner and southwest Sydney. We are not affiliated with any political party. For enquiries relating to this submission, please contact us at: WestConnex Action Group PO Box 3249 Marrickville Metro NSW 2204
[email protected] 1.0 Terms of reference We note that the terms of reference for the Inquiry are as follows: Operations of existing and proposed toll roads in Australia, including: a. financial arrangements of existing and proposed private toll roads, and transparency, accountability and equity aspects of these arrangements; b. interaction of commercial considerations of private toll road operators with federal and state transport and infrastructure policy; and c. any other related matters. 2.0 Overview of issues covered in this submission 1 Due to the overlapping nature of these terms of reference, we have not dealt with the issue under those specific headings but instead dealt with the issues under the following headings. 1. Tolling regimes are designed to deliver private profit rather than ongoing public benefit. 2. Lack of transparency around tolling arrangements 3. New tolls levied on existing motorways to subsidise other toll roads 4.