Labor pledges $30 toll cap as Coalition targets gas ban

Victoria's major parties are now both promising to cap freeway tolls with Labor pledging a $30 cap in a fresh round of cost-of-living pledges.As the countdown to the November state election continues, both Labor and the Coalition are focusing on hip-pocket appeals to voters as they unveiled their latest pledges.Premier Ben Carroll was out spruiking his government's toll cap promise, while Opposition Leader Jess Wilson visited a construction site to reaffirm a commitment to repealing Labor's ban on gas installations in new-build homes.Premier Ben Caroll's toll cap promise follows one made by opposition leader Jess Wilson in mid-August. (ABC News)The Labor transport pledge mirrors one made by Ms Wilson in mid-August, which promised a $50 weekly cap on toll road use that would apply for two years.Labor's toll cap plan, due to come into effect from the beginning of next year, would apply to both individuals and small businesses and would rely on a rebate system.Mr Carroll likened the scheme to his government's 20 per cent car registration discount, and described Labor as “the party of cost of living”."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.The maximum rebate figure allowed under the program would be $350 a week, or $5,000 a year.Cars, utes, motorbikes and vans would all be eligible to take part in the program, and small businesses would be able to make claims for up to five vehicles.The Labor $30 fare cap plan has been calculated to cost $191 million for the year starting January 2027, while the Coalition's $50 fare cap plan was calculated to cost $90 million per year starting July 2027.The toll cap promised by both Labor and the Coalition mirrors a cost-of-living relief program already operating in NSW that caps tolls at $50 a week. The NSW measure took effect in July this year.Opposition Leader Jess Wilson visited a suburban construction site to announce the energy policy on Sunday. (ABC News)Meanwhile, Ms Wilson said if elected next month, a Coalition government would reverse the Labor government's ban on gas connections in new homes within 100 days of winning office.The weekend announcement puts a timeframe on an existing Coalition pledge to repeal the Labor energy policy, first announced in 2023 by the Andrews government."Under a Liberals and Nationals government that I lead, Victorians will have a choice about how they heat their homes, how they cook their meals and how they run their businesses," Ms Wilson said."Under Labor's ideological war on gas, we are seeing increasing costs to Victorians — whether its the opportunity to build a new home, adding up to $1,500 cost to a new build…or those who already have gas in their home."