JO-ANN Miller says she will push for legislation to protect motorists from gouging by tolling companies — if she finds such a move is needed.

The former Labor minister, who has been a thorn in the side of the Palaszczuk Government during two weeks of estimates hearings, has called for Transurban to make public a new agreement it has with the government to deal directly with motorists to collect unpaid tolls.

“I think as much of this agreement as possible should be made public for the ordinary people so that they are aware what the responsibilities are from Transurban and also what their responsibilities are as well,” she told ABC Radio.

The issue came up on Thursday in an estimates committee when the Bundamba MP told the story of constituent Matthew, who couldn’t understand how $200 in tolls had ballooned to $20,000 in debt.

She said she had not received a proper response from Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey to her question on whether new laws were needed to stop toll operators from “gouging”.

“If legislation is necessary, I will certainly pursue it, not only on behalf of my constituents but also people right across southeast Queensland who have also had bad experiences with Transurban,” she said.

Ms Miller said the issue of toll fees and fines was so complex that she as an elected MP and her experienced staff had trouble understanding them on behalf of stung constituents.

“My electorate officers are ripping their hair out because of the problems they have as well with Transurban ... they try to bamboozle you,” she said.

She said some people had debts that had climbed so high that it was seriously affecting their health due to stress.

Transport and Main Roads Director-General Neil Scales initially said he would look at releasing the agreement before saying that he could not because it was commercial-in-confidence.