Good and bad news for Vic riders

Victoria's $53-plus annual motorcycle tax, called a safety levy, has been extended indefinitely. The amount rises each year, as it is indexed.

However multi-bike owners will now only be charged once per year, rather than for every machine they own.

The Melbourne-based Motorcycle Riders Association of Australia (MRAA) has released a lengthy statement on the tax.

It reads:

The motorcycle community must now ponder what the future holds and what position it should take in relation to the levy.  In light of what has happened during the life of the levy, the motorcycle community needs to decide what alternatives there are to the levy which will continue to result in positive safety outcomes for motorcycle riders given the minor amendment which has been announced by Minister Pallas relating to the levy post 1 Jan 2008.

During the life of the levy the Victoria Motorcycle Advisory Council (VMAC) has been given total control as to how the levy funds are spent. Many projects submitted by various authorities for consideration of allocated levy funds have been rejected or amended by a panel of predominately motorcycle friendly VMAC members, while only the most motorcycle appropriate proposals have been approved. Consequently, the existence of the levy funds "exclusively quarantined for motorcycles" has generated a political advantage never before experienced by the motorcycle community. Positive results, such as the appointment of a Parliamentary Secretary charged with the responsibility for motorcycles and an "open door policy" to the Minister are but two positive outcomes that may not have resulted if the responsibility for motorcycle funds allocation rested with another Government body other than VMAC.

The MRAA points out that riders have not always been happy with all proposals for the spending of levy funds on "blackspots". However VMAC has agreed that all future proposals for road works funded by the levy will be independently evaluated by an experienced motorcycle safety expert (and current rider). This will assist riders to know that "value for money" will be obtained.

The motorcycle community is opposed to the "moral principle" of being singled out for paying the levy, and that inequity is being addressed at various levels. However while the levy is in place, we must maintain control of the spending of those funds, and consequent safety benefits, away from "those not qualified to make good decisions about its future" .

If a safety levy is be maintained, the only way for it to be fair is for its application to all road users and that such levy to be charged separately from the TAC payment so as to not be subject to GST and Stamp Duty, thus maximizing funds available for safety initiatives.

The MRAA encourages all interested Motorcycle Riders and motorcycle organisations to write to the Minister with credible recommendations for an alternative to the inequity of this 'motorcycle only' levy.

MRAA web