Member for Macquarie Fields Anoulack Chanthivong MP has accused the Liberal Government of turning its back on pensioners, retirees and families by failing to stop the ‘holiday tax’ being charged on the M2 and M7 Motorways.

Changes to vehicle classifications by toll operator Transurban has seen vehicles towing a caravan, trailer or boat that are greater than 12.5 metres in total length and more than 2.8 metres high reclassified as Class B vehicles – the same as B-double trucks.

Toll charges for the M2 have increased from $7.68 to $23.03 and from $8.24 to $24.72 on the M7 Motorway.

Mr Chanthivong said this holiday tax meant pensioners, retirees and families with caravans, motor homes and boats were being charged three times more in tolls.

“It is ludicrous that pensioners towing a caravan are charged the same toll as multinational companies transporting freight,” he said.

“It is equally ludicrous to suggest a towed caravan causes the same wear and tear on our roads as a B-double truck.”

Mr Chanthivong took up the fight for fairer tolls with the Liberal Government, only to be told there were no plans to change the vehicle classifications contained in the contractual arrangements with all motorways.

“This is a holiday tax the Liberal Government refuses to renegotiate on behalf of residents already struggling with rising living costs,” he said.

“It is disgusting this Liberal Government has done nothing to stop the tolling giant from going after pensioners, retirees and families just to make more money.”