Published August 2024
Liberals welcome motorbike road safety initiatives - but query new licence fee whack
The Opposition has welcomed the announcement of increased road safety measures for motorbike riders today.
Shadow Minister for Road Safety, Jack Batty, said the Liberal Party had been calling for these reforms for over a year – following a tragic increase in motorcyclist fatalities.
“We are losing lives on our roads at a horrific rate – and we welcome any measures to improve road safety for motorcyclists,” Mr Batty said.
“The former Liberal Government did the heavy lifting on this by completing a crucial transition to an enhanced Motorcycle Graduated Licensing Scheme in a huge boost to road safety.
“We have been calling on Labor to urgently expand the Rider Safe program to include an on-road training component for novice riders for over a year following a tragic increase in motorcyclist fatalities.
“We are losing lives – especially the lives of motorcyclists – at a horrific rate and urgent work must be done to enhance rider training, so we are giving learners the best shot at survival when they take to the road.
The Opposition, however, queried how nearly doubling the price of obtaining a motorbike licence will improve road safety.
“It is hard to see how this significant increase in licence fees will improve road safety,” Mr Batty said.
“In fact, we are concerned that it might deter motorcyclists even applying for a licence – which could mean even more unlicensed and untrained riders on our roads.
“Labor seem to think a new tax will fix any problem – it won’t.”
Media contact: Lesley Johns 0412 583 577
