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Liberals To Save Motorcyclists From Tax

Thousands of Gippslanders who ride motorcycles will receive a financial break from a Liberal Government, with the abolishment of the motorcycle safety levy.

By Phillip Davis - 22nd May 2006 - Back to News

Liberal Member for Gippsland Province Philip Davis said today the annual motorcycle levy had hit locals particularly hard, with a high percentage of Gippslanders choosing motorcycles as their main mode of transport.

"Particularly during this period of escalating fuel prices, many Gippslanders are choosing to ride their motorcycles instead of taking the car where possible," Mr Davis said.

"There are countless Gippsland families who have an arrangement where dad takes the motorbike to work, leaving mum and the kids with the family car to cut back on the fuel costs of running two vehicles.

"But the Bracks Government’s $53.90 annual levy singles out motorcyclists and slugs them with another tax that other road users do not have to pay.

"The Bracks Government introduced the unfair tax in 2002 and it affects more than 110,000 motorcycle riders state-wide.

"The Liberal Party has tabled a petition with more than 8500 signatures protesting against the levy, and has committed to dumping the levy when in Government."

Mr Davis said the motorcycle levy would not be needed if the Bracks Government cleaned up its act and cut back on its waste and mismanagement of taxpayer’s money.

"This levy is supposedly used to improve motorcycle safety, but the number of motorcycle fatalities has actually increased under the Bracks Government, not improved.

"Clearly, the use of this money is not working.

"All motorists benefit from improved road safety and the Liberal Party believes safety works should be funded from consolidated revenue."

A Liberal Government will scrap the motorcycle safety tax from 1 July 2007, Mr Davis said.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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