In a new report released on Monday, the Australian Infrastructure Agency, (Infrastructure Australia), criticized the Federal government for its inaction in addressing traffic jams in major Australian cities.
Government expressed support for the proposal in 2016, but the proposed toll reform survey for road users has not yet been completed.
Australia faces funding shortfalls on its roads as technological changes reduce revenues from fuel consumption, the report said.
Australian taxpayers, whether they own or drive cars, bear a significant continuing cost burden of maintaining and developing a road system. Critical road networks are congested for part of the day, but idle for much of the 24-hour cycle. "
Traffic jams waste 16 billion yuan a year, according to a report from the Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics. By 2030, the figure could become 30 billion yuan.
As electric vehicles become increasingly popular, government revenues from fuel consumption are expected to fall year-on-year, while the number of vehicles using roads will continue to grow.
Davis (Philip Davies), director of the Australian Infrastructure Agency, said road reform could provide a fairer and more sustainable source of funding for roads. "Australia has never lacked foresight, but if we are to meet the coming infrastructure challenges, we must maintain the momentum of reform," he said.
NRMA spokesman Julie (Peter Khoury) agrees that the federal government must take action.
"government needs to start a dialogue to find a system that works across Australia and ensure that future government has the ability to raise money for infrastructure," he told the Australian Daily Mail.
He said reform was crucial as the number of electric vehicles on the road grew.
"as cars become more modern and go into the market, we need to find a fairer system for those who drive older cars," he said.
Royal Queensland's (RACQ) welcomes a fairer approach, but fears drivers could be used as a "cash cow" to replenish the government Treasury.
"We need to make sure that every new charges based on miles is fair." in Kunzhou, some transportation costs has increased by nearly 15% in four years. "speaker Paul Turner said.
"As the fuel efficiency of the vehicle increases and the driver starts to turn to the electric or hybrid vehicle, the increase in the fuel tax will be reduced. At present, we may see someone driving a $200,000 Tesla electric vehicle, but not paying a penny to improve the road, which is unsustainable."
(Australian Cycle Alliance), the Australian cycling union, is also concerned about whether cyclists will have to pay a prorated "road tax".
It has also been suggested that a more local congestion tax (like London) is a solution to traffic problems. At the end of last year, a report from the Gratham Institute recommended that Melbourne and Sydney charge congestion fees for drivers entering the city center, and that they have to pay every time they drive into the city. In London, a fee equivalent to A $20 is required to get into the city centre by car.