People driving to and from their Australian homes via the country's main cities could be hit with congestion taxes.
The proposal to ease gridlock costing billions of dollars was made in a federal government report entitled the State of Australian Cities, AAP stated.
It pointed out that congestion is expected to cost the economy AUS$20 billion (£12 billion) by 2020.
Immediate and decisive action is needed to stop cities from grinding to a halt, warned Peter Moore, executive director of the International Public Transport Association.
"Imagine every city in Australia ... in gridlock during peak times and suffering the environmental, social and economic costs of urban congestion,'' he commented.
The report also assesses population growth in the country and the need for more Australian homes, as well as economic output and the travel industry.
It looked into the social, cultural and economic conditions of cities including Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide.
Posted by David McElwain