Australian transport groups challenged to champion overhaul of road charges

A coalition of Australian transport groups has been challenged by former NSW Premier Bob Carr to marshal its resources in support of a radical overhaul of existing road user charges.

Carr, speaking at the Emerging Crisis Summit, placed the onus on public and active transport groups to champion the debate on convincing Australian governments to do away with the fuel excise in favour of a user-pays scheme proposed by former Treasury boss Ken Henry.

In his wide-ranging taxation review last year, Henry proposed variable congestion charging and a road pricing model to reflect the congestion, road-wear and environmental cost of a vehicle.

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