BRACKS TAXES MOTORCYCLES WHILE RIDERS DIE
The State Government’s $53.90 motorcycle levy has been exposed as a simply another unfair tax after the number of motorcyclists killed on Victorian roads increased this year.
Member for South West Coast Denis Napthine said the Bracks Motorcycle Tax had failed spectacularly to curb the numbers of motorcycle riders being killed on the state’s roads.
“When the Bracks Labor Government introduced the tax three years ago at a flat $50, it was supposedly to fund initiatives to reduce the motorcycle road toll,” Dr Napthine said.
“Earlier this year, the Government announced that this hidden tax – which does not appear on motorcycle registration forms and is not paid by any other motor vehicle user – would not only be extended a further two years but would also increase to $53.90. This increase from $50 to $53.90 is an 8.0 per cent jump in the Bracks Motorcycle Tax and is well above the current national CPI. It is completely unjustified given the lack of safety results for motorcyclists.
“Despite the Bracks Labor Government using stealth to secretly dip even further into the pockets of motorcycle riders, the number of motorcyclists killed to date this year is 24% higher than for ALL of last year.
“Latest figure show 34 motorcyclists were killed in 2004, compared with 42 for the year to date in 2005. Sadly, the year isn’t even finished yet and we’re coming into the time of the year when the greatest numbers of motorcycles are out on the road – the summer holidays.
“This means that the Bracks Labor Government’s $53.90 hidden motorcycle tax has been exposed for the costly sham that it really is. Motorcycle riders are having $53.90 spirited out of their pockets by stealth by this money-hungry Bracks Labor Government, and yet even more motorcyclists are dying on our roads.
“No wonder literally hundreds of thousands of motorcycle riders throughout Victoria are feeling ripped off by this Bracks Labor Government …
Motorcyclists are hit by hidden $53.90 registration taxes;
Motorcyclists are posted nonsensical, high-cost glossy brochures telling them what a good job the Bracks Labor Government is doing protecting them;
Motorcyclists’ lives are placed in even greater danger by the Bracks Labor Government placing deadly wire rope barriers (shredders) far too close to the sides of roads from one end of Victoria to the next;
Motorcyclists are not seeing any actual road improvements which might make riding motorcycles safer and;
Motorcyclists are dying on our roads in even greater numbers.
“Is it any wonder that the owners and riders of Victoria’s 107,581 registered motorcycles (as of March 2005) are getting sick and tired of the money-grabbing Bracks Labor Government?” Dr Napthine asked.
“Labor does not care about motorcyclists beyond the fact that they are yet another target for revenue-raising. No other vehicle users in Victoria have to pay a hidden tax on their registrations but motorcyclists do – and they’re getting precious little in return for it.
“Unless you count an increasing road toll …”
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How? By riders thinking, "this is great, there's so much grip - I can go faster, ooooooooh farkkkkkkkkk.
