Federal Government says it is “closely considering” charging drivers per kilometre t

[csv8]

"THE Federal Government says it is “closely considering” charging drivers per kilometre they travel in order to pay for roads.

A final report into infrastructure by the Productivity Commission has recommended pilot technical studies of how cars and light vehicles might be charged.

It recommends adopting telematics, which can monitor a vehicle’s location and movements in real time.

“The application of a charging mechanism created by rapidly changing communications technology appears promising,” the report says.



“Importantly, these trials would introduce direct user charges as a substitute for other taxes, such as the fuel excise.”

The report suggests each state and territory hold its own road fund to pay for new roads, upgrades and maintenance.

States and territories would be best placed to decide where money needed to be spent.

Despite Prime Minister Tony Abbott saying in March road-user charging was “unlikely to ever be adopted by any government”, Assistant Infrastructure Minister Jamie Briggs said the Government was considering all aspects of the report.


As if driving around Sydney is not bad enough, now motorists are being slugged even more to sit in traffic jams on our major motorways

Noting the majority of recommendations were relevant to state governments, Mr Briggs said the Government would consult with them before releasing its formal response.

He said issues relating to road-user charging would be considered as part of the Federal Government’s broader reform agenda.

“There are already a number of initiatives on user charging already under way,” Mr Briggs said.

That included consultation with motoring clubs and industry bodies on potential road-user charge models.

The fuel excise is due to rise twice yearly under a Budget proposal, but legislation has not yet passed Parliament."
http://www.news.com.au/national/vict...-1226988912045

[Dash_XR]

I'd prefer that instead of a flat fee for rego, then I won't have to pay $700 for a car that gets used maybe once or twice a week. If it's on top of rego then that would suck.

[buggo]

It recommends adopting telematics, which can monitor a vehicle’s location and movements in real time.

I can see this being exploited eventually.

"Here's your bill for driving last night. Oh and a $300 fine for taking too long to slow down in that 40 kay workzone. See you in court on the 12th."

[Peter B - CV8]

Don't they already do this anyway - via fuel taxes etc...

[CoupeKing]

Building a road or highway right the first time would save them $$$

[Wretched]

Originally Posted by Dash_XR

I'd prefer that instead of a flat fee for rego, then I won't have to pay $700 for a car that gets used maybe once or twice a week. If it's on top of rego then that would suck.

Agree, though here in Vic (i am sure it is the same in other states), the majority of the rego is the TAC insurance premium. I cannot see them lowering that.

[castellan]

Well that's it I am out if that comes in, I would go broke as it would not be worth going to work.

It's a great con job !
The gov looks after all the good for nothings and others that are not even our citizens.

[Nova 8]

Constant tracking in my car... Sounds like a breach of my basic human rights and they can sod off with that crap.

[Dash_XR]

Originally Posted by Wretched

Agree, though here in Vic (i am sure it is the same in other states), the majority of the rego is the TAC insurance premium. I cannot see them lowering that.

That's another thing, why should an individual have to pay more then one TAC cover for themself?

[Franco Cozzo]

Might be worth me having more cars again lol.

I can't see rego coming down, it will probably be the standard rego cost in Victoria which is like mid $600 something, + extra depending on KM.

If thee Government wants they will already know exactly where you are because of your phone in your pocket, especially with Victoria Police all of a sudden requesting tower "dumps" from phone towers, it'll show all the calls/duration/people and where they were when they made calls rather than just targeting one particular person they are after.

[tut0r]

Yeah, I can't see in any way this would benefit, especially if they want to 'track' you. Thats just a blatant breach of privacy right there and as someone said earlier its mostly TAC than rego...

This country is really going down the drain in regards to road rules I swear who ever comes up with this has never stepped foot in any vehicle whatsoever....

[max_torq]

Maybe the person who thought this up claims the mileage as a tax deduction, so a device would be easier than a pesky log-book.

[chevypower]

This is the "conservative" Liberal party? I would have expected this from Labor.

[NAK302]

yeah why not, i still have some money left over from my pay after paying all the taxes and levy's imposed on me. they may as well have the rest of my pay too to pay for what is essentially a toll (tax)
retirement in this country may not be an option soon.

[Davehoos]

Originally Posted by chevypower

This is the "conservative" Liberal party? I would have expected this from Labor.

The conservative side of government is pro user pay and simplified cost to recover this cost.
left side of government would demand that you live next door to your work place at the job provided for you.

This all sounds like trouble making-car Rego are state controlled.
Heavy vehicle rego is nation controlled and tracking has already been recommended over and over again.

NZ you buy road tax distance at the post office. lot better to remove all the B/S taxes for road works

P/S
Whats with Victorians and tracking-Local work sites often stop around here because a Victorian contractors arrive and demand that they are not accountable for dodgy work. Do they not understand that the rest of Australia knows where Victoria is.

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by Davehoos

NZ you buy road tax distance at the post office. lot better to remove all the B/S taxes for road works

That only for diesel cars. In Oz diesel has about 15c/l extra tax then petrol.

[Franco Cozzo]

When I was in NZ in 2011, I was on a bus talking to a bus driver taking us around, and I mentioned that diesel was so cheap compared to Australia, it was like $1.36/L or something for diesel and 91 was $1.95/L.

Bus driver was saying they had all these extra taxes on diesel vehicles they had to pay..

Why is 91 so expensive over in NZ?

[malazn mafia]

Charge per km is okay. But don't restrict how fast those kms are consumed on the open road and I'm all for it. Open road speed limits are just a tax on time and time is money... dreaming of the day I can make melb to sydney in 4 hours by car and not have to put up with taxis, airport security and queus which takes up 4 hours + anyway.

[ILLaViTaR]

lol I can imagine the shortest routes all being chockas to save a few cents whilst doubling/tripling travel time. People will spend their night in traffic to save 50 cents and be happy about it.

Should just get people under 35 and over 65 to pull the masses around on rickshaws. That way the roads will have exponentially more longevity, require less maintenance and will have no congestion for the miners and commercial vehicles such as trucks, tractors etc.

[falconnut]

Brb moving to canada

[LG17]

So those of us who choose to live in the country are ****** over once again. :(
How about a congestion tax to free the cities up so they won't have to spend mega zillions there?

[falconnut]

Yep i had to drive hundreds of k's

******* stupid assbackwards govt.

[Guzz226]

won't happen anytime soon due to the cost of implementing such a system and challenges of adding to every single vehicle. Not to mention political fallout.

Much easier to simply increase fuel tax as a proxy - given the more you drive, the more fuel, the more tax - only gap here is the battery cars, although statistically not an issue for now at least. When these numbers do become significant and the demands on fuel reduce it will get interesting.

[LTDHO]

I have seen this (or similar to) done in NZ.
It is too easy to get pass.

So I welcome it to Victoria.

Besides my two registered cars do not travel far anyway.

[falconnut]

Its a stupid system that only exists to rip people off.

It might work in smaller states but nsw nt qld sa would get absolutely screwed

we already pay way too much in taxes and get meh roads

[Stefan]

I won't lower rego for "low kms" users, simply increase rego for "high km" users.

Governments don't do these things other than to get more cash in the door.

[mik]

Originally Posted by CoupeKing

Building a road or highway right the first time would save them $$$

Thats called forward thinking, govco doesn't do such things , they use the screw them, we will just invent more taxes later system.

[Jack960]

I highly doubt it would ever be implemented given the privacy issues.

[CyberWasp]

It is bs to charge people by the kilometer. People that travel longer distances already pay the extra tax as they consume more fuel.
Many people live in areas with no public transport so a car is the only way to get to work.

He are 2 novel ideas.
1) How about using rego for what it is intended for, that is roads. Don't siphon it off to general revenue.
2) Think outside the square. Sponsor Kilometer sections of Hwy. Get Coca Cola for example to buy 5 kilometers of Motor way giving them the right to plaster their signs along it for 5 kms. They cover the cost of the road and get guaranteed advertising. People don't have to pay tolls / taxes to drive on it. I wouldn't care what signs i had to pass if the road was free to travel on.

[Itsme]

Originally Posted by Dash_XR

I'd prefer that instead of a flat fee for rego, then I won't have to pay $700 for a car that gets used maybe once or twice a week. If it's on top of rego then that would suck.

Wish it was true but your Rego fees will remain since it is State government controlled, this is another Federal Government rip off fee.

Don't you luv the rotten sods!!!