NSW Labor today lodged a petition in NSW Parliament calling on the Liberal Government to scrap the unfair new toll on the M5 East.

The petition collected more than 10,000 signatures, forcing the Liberal Government to debate the issue on the floor of Parliament.

Since July, motorists have been slapped with a $6.95 each-way toll on the M5 East – a road that has always been free since it opened in 2001 and which is not being upgraded.

The toll will cost drivers more than $3300 a year and will increase by at least 4% every year for the next 40 years.

The new toll comes at a terrible time for motorists who are already struggling during the worst economic downturn since World War II.

Mr Chanthivong said the Liberal Government betrayed motorists in south-west Sydney by giving Transurban the rights to toll the M5 East as part of the sale of WestConnex – making motorists pay to drive on an old road.

“We are in the middle of an economic recession like no other, and the Liberal Party's heartless answer is to collect more tolls,” he said.

“This is a blatant cash-grab on motorists who can ill-afford the extra expense during a pandemic.”

Mr Minns said: "The impact on local roads of this reckless decision has been devastating.  It was once the case the toll roads and tunnels were designed to reduce surface traffic, this has done the exact opposite.

"Local tradies and families feel betrayed by a Liberal Government that promised them it would reduce the cost of living, not radically increase it."

Mr Lynch said: “This is an unfair new toll on an old road. The Berejiklian Government should be ashamed of itself.”

Ms Stanley said: “I am overwhelmed by the number of stories I’ve heard about the difficulties this new unfair toll is causing families and workers. Paying for a road that already exists to prop up the liberal budget mistakes is another blow to South West Sydney residents.”