Bike Tax hits Tas.. who's next.?-- LONG.!

[MadKaw]

> Sent: Sunday, July 10, 2005 1:13 PM
> Subject: TAC ANTIBIKE TAX GOING NATIONAL VIA TASSIE.
>
> The Tasmanian $15 antibike tax is no surprise. What is a surprise is
that
> it was not much bigger. In Victoria it's $50. As predicted, it's
> spreading. What's the Australian Motorcycle Council (AMC) going to do
> about it?
>
> About 3 years ago the Motorcycle Riders' Association (MRA) in
Melbourne
> and a Ulysses Club rep from Adelaide were called to meet the
Victorian
> Government about a "safety levy". They were gullible and weak. The
yarn
> spun them by the Transport Accident Commission (TAC), and others, was
that
> the millions being taken were to reduce rider casualties through
> well-targeted
> campaigns and programs produced by the Victorian torcycle Advisory
Council
> (VMAC). TAC said the tax was inevitable and the rider reps should
accept
> it and make the most of it. They bowed down.
>
> Tax in, VMAC out of any administrative role re the proceeds of this
> unpopular tax. VMAC was set up specifically to advise transport
ministers
> on motorbike & scooter matters. VMAC was not called to meet for
months. A
> committee, including the RACV(!?!) was proposed to administer the
loot.
> There was a public outcry. The motorcycle community was begining to
see
> the very negative consequences of their reps meekly accepting such an
> unfair and discriminatory tax.
>
> Then police wanted money to modify a dud bike mounted speed camera
system
> they'd bought. Riders were waking up to the damage done. The police
grab
> was not successful.
>
> The latest in Vic is the money is being spent on shoulders and
signage on
> tourism infrastructure, the Great Ocean Road. This use of the tax can
only
> benefit a tiny percentage of riders. It ignores other bike black
spots and
> urgently needed programs. The well-targeted campaigns have not been
> seriously considered in the three years since the TAC tax was forced
on
> the Victorian motorcycle community.
>
> The promises of the Tasmanian Minister that the tax will be spent on
bike
> safety as the Tasmanian Motorcycle Council (TMC) recommends (see
media
> release below) have little credibility after 3 year's experience of
the
> TAC tax in this State.
>
> The $50 TAC tax used to appear as a seperate item on our registration
> renewals. It was quietly absorbed into the overall TAC charge. A
glossy
> leaflet was produced spinning the yarn that the tax is good for us.
VMAC
> was allowed to rubber stamp the semi-finished product. Who paid? and
how
> much? for it's production and distribution isn't known.
>
> The TAC antibike tax is due for review in October/Novemebr but it
seems
> the Victorian authorities are moving to make the tax permanent
regardless
> of VMAC and stakeholders in the bike industry and the wider
community. A
> petition is circulating to have the TAC antibike tax abolished.
Copies are
> available by email or post. A protest run is being planned for March
2006.
> The next Victorian election is November 2006. Tasmanian riders should
> support their local MRA in opposing this unjust tax. The Tasmanian
MRA
> should call for very strong and public support from the AMC as the
only
> national political organisation representing motorbike & scooter
riders.
>
> Failure to stop the Tasmanian antibike tax and rid Victoria of this
> disgraceful bit of social engineering will see other Australian
states and
> territories make riding a motorbike or scooter harder to own by
increasing
> cost through taxation. While still a tiny proportion of traffic flow,
> powered two-wheelers have steadily increased in numbers over 2
decades.
> Scooters are now the biggest selling new bike in the country (FCAI).
This
> makes sense. Given the nature of our cities - polluted, congested and
> extremely short of car parking spaces -these taxes are negative to
the
> general public in the long run.
>
> Urban authorities and planners should be encouraging public transport
and
> both powered and unpowered two-wheelers. More people on buses, trams,
> trains bicycles, motorbikes & scooters means more space for single
car
> drivers, lower transport costs for goods and less damage to
infrastructure
> overall. These, apparently, are not concerns for road bureaucracies.
>
> The Victorian antibike tax is, as predicted, going national. Only the
> strongest opposition at election will stop the spread. Think about
this.
> Anything that can be registered can be the victim of a specifically
> targeted tax. Who's next? People with open-topped cars? Power boat
owners?
> Sidecar or trike riders?
>
> MRAs across the country should be calling a national conference.
Bikers
> Australia should be invited. The venue should be after Canberra 2006
next
> January. Individuals should join the MRA and/or Bikers Australia
> to give those organisations the support required (in member fees and
> voting power) for major campaigns to protect your right to ride.
Joining
> MRA or Bikers does not interfere with your membership in any other
group
> or club. http://www.mraa.org.au (linked to
> state & territory MRAs) and/or http://www.bikersaustralia.com.au .
>
> Damien Codognotto OAM
> MRA Life Member.
> Ulysses Club 21208.
> http://www.nmcins.com.au .
***************************************
> From: "Guy Stanford" <sstanfor@bigpond.net.au>
> To: "Abby. ZDNet Dinham" mailto:abby.dinham@zdnet.com.au>
> Cc: <mercury.news@dbl.newsltd.com.au>
> Sent: Friday, July 08, 2005 6:41 PM
> Subject: Tasmanian Transport Minister lays an egg
>
> See below for press release from Tasmanian Transport Minister.
Tasmania
> introduces $15 surcharge on every motorcycle license to pay for what
> riders have already paid for and never received.
>
> From the 2005-2006 Tasmanian Budget Papers
>>
http://www.treasury.tas.gov.au/domino/d ... 99SeeTable
>> 7.5 and notes following. These funds have alreadybeen
>> allocatedbyParliament! Tasmanian Minister for Transport Bryan Green
is
>> showing the height of cynical hypocrisy in asking motorcycle riders
for
>> implementation of the Tasmanian Motorcycle Safety Strategy.Do
bicycle
>> riders pay for their safety strategy? Do pedestrians pay for theirs?
What
>> about cardrivers? Or heavy vehicle drivers? No, why not? because
>> provision of road safety programs is the responsibility of the
Minister,
>> not of a volunteer organisation.This is a desperate attempt to patch
up
>> seven yearsof past neglect in the run-up to an election. It is
>> contemptuously asking Tasmanian motorcycle riders, who have gone
>> completely without for the pastseven years of this government, to
forgive
>> for what they have gone without and then pay for it.The initiatives
are
>> good and the Tasmanian Motorcycle Council must be congratulated for
>> getting these onto the agenda, but the Ministers method ofpaying for
it
>> by bleeding riders is outrageous. The "seed funding" for TMC sounds
good,
>> but I see no depth nor on-going committement. It is asking riders to
pay
>> for past failure of government to include motorcycle road safety
>> programs. The government has simply pocketed the monies paid by
riders in
>> the past and spent it on other programs.
>
> If I was a cynic, I'd say it looked like a way for Bryan Green to
create a
> "war chest" for pork barelling marginal electorates in the run up to
next
> year's election. The funds havebeen allocated, so why does he ask
riders
> to pay twice? Simple, because he thinks riders won't count in the
next
> election. What is particularly galling is that most of the proposed
> expenditure is for administration of theDepartment.
>
> GuyStanford
> Chairman MCC of NSW
> 0417661827
*******************************************

> http://www.media.tas.gov.au/release.php?id=15102
> Bryan Green, MHAMinisterforInfrastructure, Energy and Resources.
> Friday, 8 July 2005.
> Package ToImproveMotorcycle Safety.
>
> The State Government today announced a comprehensive package of
measures
> to improve safety for Tasmania's motorcycle riders.Infrastructure
> MinisterBryan Green said the package was a key initiative of the
Tasmanian
> Road Safety Strategy 2002-2006.
>
> "The Governmentwill also provide seed funding to the peak motorcycle
body,
> the Tasmanian Motorcycle Council, to ensure it is able to play a
leading
> role in helping to implement the new safety measures.The Tasmanian
Road
> Safety Council has developed the Strategy after extensive
consultation
> with the motorcycle community and other interested parties. Recent
> national and international developments in motorcycle safety has also
been
> researched. MrGreen said the Motor Accidents Insurance Board would
make
> available up to $500,000 towards extra training for older motorcycle
> riders and safety education initiatives. Key measures in the 31-point
> Tasmanian Motorcycle Safety Strategy include:
>
> * Increasing the minimum age for motorcycle learners to 17, subject
to
> further community consultation;
> * Introducing a minimum six-month learner
> licenceperiodformotorcycleriders;
> * Introducing a power-to-weight ratio of 150 kilowatts per tonne
combined
> with a maximum engine capacity of 660 cubiccentimetre capacity for
> motorcycle learners and for all riders in their first year after
> progressing from a motorcycle learner licence;
> * Introducing animprovedand more stringent pre-learner course for
> motorcyclists to ensure that learner riders are 'road-ready' before
riding
> solo;
> * Continuing to participate in theVictorian trial of a safe front
number
> plate for motorcycles.
>
> There will also be a range of safety initiatives for existing riders,
to
> be developed with the Tasmanian Motorcycle Council. Mr Green said the
> measures would be funded through the introduction of a $15-a- year
> motorcycle safety levy for a five-year licensing cycle, or $11per
year if
> all five years were paid at once."Funds raised through the levy will
be
> spent entirely on motorcycles safety initiatives. The Government will
work
> closely with the Tasmanian Motorcycle Council to develop and
implement a
> range of measures for existing riders."Public education campaigns for
> motorcycle riders and drivers, promotion of safe riding practices,
> promotion of voluntary refresher training for older riders, and
> installation of warning signs at motorcycle crash sites are the type
of
> things that will be funded. Motorcyclists make uptwo per centof the
> registered vehicles on Tasmania's roads. Yet in 2003, 11 motorcycle
riders
> were killed - representing 27 percent of the State's road toll and
in2004
> a further seven motorcycle riders were killed, making up more than 12
> percent of the road toll. So far, in 2005, three motorcycle riders
have
> been killed and serious injuries to date are the highest they have
been
> since2001. A Regulatory Impact Statement will be released shortly for
> public commenton the proposal to raise the licence age from 16 to 17.
>
> "I welcome the support of the MAIB in extending the public education
> aspect of the package to other road users because we realise not all
> motorcycle accidents are the fault of the rider," Mr Green said.

[Barrabob]

What they going to build us a track somwhere and have braking and cornering courses and track days for free

Dougbt it highly it will just go to consolidated revenue it just a levy to help fiill the coffers.

[I-K]

Scroll down.

Spot author to be Damien Codognotto.

Move on, since the chances of the hysterical, self-aggrandasing, pompous twit having broken his long track record of dribbling shit are practically zero.

[Gosling1]

clearly I-K you have been around a long time. So have I. ( remember the 10,000 Ride to Canberra campaign back in 1980 ??)
You are dead right about Mr C. He means well, but for as many years as I can remember, has only been interested in what is best for Victorian riders. The rest of the country may as well whistle dixie........

Fact - if you really want to see a heavily-taxed motorcycle society, try living in Europe/Canada/basically anywhere north of the equator. Bikers over here have it pretty good when all is said and done. Of course more money could be spent rider training/ facilities etc, the powers that be see that we form 2?% of the total road users. Does that justify spending 10% of their driver training/facilities budget ? methinks not. methinks about 2%, which is exactly what we get.

cheers
PoliticallyIncorrectDave

[Steve_TLS]

The Vic bike tax sucks! Why don't they tax all 4wd owners $50 a year and say it's for forest conservation? We're a soft target.

Any black spot improvements should come from normal accounts - especially if they benefit all road users.

TL1000S = $379.70
5.0V8 Ute = $365.80

[Gosling1]

Steve - does that 379.70 INCLUDE the $50 TAC charge ??

If so, then you guys down south are already well ahead:

Rego costs for a Z1000 in the ACT: ( valid up to 30/6/05, have probably > since then, as they always do)

Rego fee - 12 months - $75.00
CTPI Premium - $366.55
Road Rescue Fee ( don't ask....) $16.00
Road Safety Contribution $2.00

Total costs $459.55

I remember when rego here for a 1 litre bike was only 380 bucks - about 5 years ago the grass is not always greener on the other side grasshopper. If your total rego costs are still under 400 bucks per annum, you are doing OK its even worse in NSW mate...... the only state with cheap rego is QLD, and one ride more than 100km out of the Brisvegas CBD will show you why this is

cheers
OverTaxedDave

[I-K]

clearly I-K you have been around a long time. So have I. ( remember the 10,000 Ride to Canberra campaign back in 1980 ??)

Seeing how I was four years old and living on the other side of the world at the time... umm, no, unfortunately.

You are dead right about Mr C. He means well, but for as many years as I can remember, has only been interested in what is best for Victorian riders. The rest of the country may as well whistle dixie...

I dunno. My familiarity with him stems from the rambling vitriol he used to get published in the AMCN letters pages and the petty flame wars he used to start and persist with on aus.motorcycles around the turn of the century. That, coupled with reports I have from sources I trust of the part he played in the MRAA infighting of the same time, has led me to form the opinion that the guy is a grade-A headcase.

To be honest, the person he most reminds me of is Harold Scruby, except without Scruby's talent for only antagonising a majority, not the entirety, of people.

[Steve_TLS]

Steve - does that 379.70 INCLUDE the $50 TAC charge ??

If so, then you guys down south are already well ahead:
cheers
OverTaxedDave

Yeah, that icludes the Levy. It used to be shown as an individual item, now it's just part of the premium.

Registration fee $32.10
TAC Premium $316.00
Insurance duty $31.60

(I'm out in the sticks a bit, not sure what the Metro guys pay - might be the same).

Total costs $459.55 I think I'll shut up now

[Gosling1]

I-K, yes, well, hmmm you would struggle to remember that particular ride but you have picked DC in one. He tried so hard in the early years, but really caused a lot of angst and division at a time he was trying to put on a united front. His politicising of m/cycle safety matters, infighting with MRA/A's etc is the main reason I ( along with many others) dropped out of the MRA in the 80's.

Harold Scruby - now THERE is a headcase. He just has a pathalogical hatred of 4WD's. As a motorcyclist whose missus drives a Prado, I can see both sides of the argument ( and the road ) - a young girl dies in a very unfortunate accident in Sydney, Harold's knee goes into overdrive, and the 'Ban 4WD' campaign' is on in earnest. A Sigma runs into a brick wall outside a Melbourne school, luckily no-one is killed, do you hear a single squeek from Scruby ???? no way known, you see he drives a car, and we can't go banning those now, can we. He is a total fruitloop, one day natural justice will prevail, and he will be run over by a Nissan ( or a Hummer )

[Gosling1]

TLS Steve - just a quick PS to that bike rego post:

Commodore 1989 VN V6

Rego fee 226.00
CTPI Premium 385.85
Road Rescue Fee 16.00 ( same as the bikes ? go figure)
Road Safety Contribution 2.00

total - $629.85

slightly less than double your current rego costs. Sssshhhh don't tell Mr Bracks

[Steve_TLS]

But you've got porn and fireworks.

$343.90 difference for both vehicles. That's nearly 12 months of full comp for my bike.

[Ment]

But you've got porn and fireworks.

[Gosling1]

But you've got porn and fireworks.

Boom Boom BOOM bang bang BANGGGGGG a Fiery Demon followed by a Jolly Rogering good call mate !!

those regos costs are why I only have 1 bike rego'ed at a time.

[Shifty]

I'm glad I'm in QLD. I just paid (single seat) rego on my 600 and it was $197.00 for the year...

[Gosling1]

so they still have the old single seat/dual seat rego rules up there ! jeez they have been around for ever. $197 for 12 months !!! even 6 months rego down here is $255.50 aaaarrrgghhh !!! its a hopeless joke.....