Victorian Labor pledges $30 toll cap as Coalition sets gas ban repeal deadline
Labor says it would rebate freeway tolls above $30 a week, while the Coalition promises to reverse the ban on gas connections in new homes within 100 days of taking office.
Victorian Labor pledged on 18 October to cap freeway tolls at $30 a week if it wins the state election, ABC News reported. The Coalition separately promised to repeal the ban on gas connections in new homes within 100 days of taking office. The commitments put household and business costs at the centre of the campaign ahead of the 28 November vote.
Who would qualify for Labor’s toll rebate
Labor’s proposed cap would use rebates and begin at the start of 2027, according to ABC News. It would cover individuals and small businesses using cars, utes, motorbikes or vans. Small businesses could claim for up to five vehicles. The maximum rebate would be $350 in a week or $5,000 in a year.
Premier Ben Carroll presented the pledge as cost-of-living relief for small businesses. ‘This will go to the heart of helping small business people … continue to grow their business, give them economic opportunity and support them at a time of need right now,’ he said, according to ABC News. The proposed rebate would apply only if Labor wins and puts the scheme into effect.
The Coalition had already promised a $50 weekly toll cap for two years in mid-August, ABC News reported. Both parties’ proposals resemble a New South Wales program that began in July 2026 and caps tolls at $50 a week. The Victorian pledges differ in their weekly thresholds, and Labor’s proposal specifies coverage for small businesses and several vehicle types.
Coalition sets a deadline for gas ban repeal
Opposition Leader Jess Wilson said a Coalition government would reverse the ban on gas connections in new homes within 100 days of winning office. ABC News reported that the Coalition had previously pledged to repeal the policy; the 18 October announcement added a deadline. The gas policy was first announced by Victoria’s Andrews government in 2023.
Wilson said Victorians should be able to choose how they heat their homes and cook. She also claimed the gas policy could add up to $1,500 to the cost of a new build. That figure is her claim, as reported by ABC News, rather than an independently established cost.
The Victorian Electoral Commission lists Saturday 28 November 2026 as the next state election. Voters will choose between the parties’ toll proposals and their opposing positions on gas connections; neither campaign pledge is in force by virtue of its announcement.
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Sources and context
- Labor pledges $30 toll cap as Coalition targets gas banABC News
- State electionsVictorian Electoral Commission
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.