MPs come out en masse for start of national campaign
And Peter Garrett extolled the virtues tooDecember 8, 2008
Ten Federal MPs, including Triumph-riding former opposition leader, Dr Brendan Nelson, have attended the launch of an Australian Motorcycle Council campaign in Canberra to sell the benefits of riding motorbikes, and to promote safety.
"We came to Parliament at the invitation of the Member for Wannon, David Hawker, to see how many riders we could find amongst the ranks of Federal MPs," Shaun Lennard, the chairman of the Australian Motorcycle Council, said. "What we've found is a cross-section entirely representative of the broader Australian motorcycling community: cruiser and touring riders, sportsbike riders, dirtbike fans, farmers -- for whom the motorcycle is an essential work tool -- a restorer of rare British motorcycles, whole families into motorcycling, and at least one scooter rider.
"This is the start of a national campaign to raise public awareness around the positive aspects of motorcycles and scooters as part of the overall transport mix. For example, motorcycles account for 3.2 percent of the Australian vehicle fleet but just 0.3 percent of carbon emissions from vehicles."
Dr Nelson (the member for Bradfield, NSW) and Hawker (Wannon, Vic) were joined at the launch by fellow parliamentarians John Forrest (Mallee, Vic), Luke Hartsuyker (Cowper, NSW), Chris Hayes (Werriwa, NSW), Steve Gibbons (Bendigo, Vic), Chris Trevor (Flynn, Qld), Kate Lundy (ACT), Alby Schultz (Hume, NSW) and Cory Bernardi (SA).
"It is long past time that on both sides of politics we incorporate motorcycling into Australia's road transport strategy," Dr Nelson said at the launch.
While he was in Canberra, Lennard also met with Federal Environment Minister, Peter Garrett, to discuss the environmental benefits of motorcycling.
The AMC was formed in 1982, and its objectives are to:
- Promote and improve all aspects of road safety concerning motorcycling in Australia;
- Promote, improve and protect the use of motorcycles in Australia, recognising their environmentally beneficial place in urban and land transport planning and systems; and
- Promote and improve at all levels the full knowledge, awareness, understanding and acceptance of motorcyclists' welfare and safety needs in Australia.
For more information on the AMC, click here.
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