Secrecy slammed over Victorian motorcycle safety levy

[ruSTynutz]

Millions of dollars of Victorian motorcycle safety levy funds remain unspent as minutes of the ministerial advisory panel on motorcycle issues are shrouded in secrecy.

Retired industry veteran and Two Wheel Action Group spokesman Stuart Strickland OAM “strongly disagrees” with the confidentiality around all aspects of the Motorcycle Safety Levy collected as part of the Transport Accident Commission premium in registrations for motorcycles with an engine capacity of 126cc or above. The levy is $73.70 per registration.

The unallocated funds balance of the Motorcycle Safety Levy is currently $15,477,785, which is only down marginally from the $18.5m unspent at the end of the 2014/15 financial year.

In 2017, road safety advocate and author Heather Ellis called for the annual levy to be “greatly reduced by 50% or more”, fearing the Victorian State Government was “eyeing it off for internal revenue”.

Stuart says that as a levy payer, he and other riders should have access to all information related to the levy and formally requested the Minister release the minutes from the past four Motorcycle Community Engagement Panel meetings.

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[Nigel]

Good luck with that one!

[Langers]

Perhaps a member of the Victorian Ozstoc community should put themselves up for selection to MCEP.

[ruSTynutz]

I don't think there are any vacancies at the moment but you'll find more about the MCEP here: https://tinyurl.com/5f2yjuzc

[ruSTynutz]

Speaking of secrecy...   

I've probably mentioned this before but Victorian riders that own multiple motorcycles should only be paying the TAC motorcycle levy on one motorcycle.
Unfortunately Vicroads will apply the levy to every motorcycle you own unless told otherwise so don't assume you're not paying the levy multple times.

A look at your registration papers will tell you nothing as the levy is included in the TAC component so many riders will be unaware that there is even a road safety levy included at all.
Even a browse of the Vicroads website will not confirm that you only have to pay the one levy...piss poor in my view!
The only way you'll find it is by going to the TAC website: https://www.tac.vic.gov.au/about-the-tac/our-organisation/transport-accident-charge (scroll down to "Motorcycle Safety Levy)

So, my advice is to visit Vicroads and make sure you're only paying the one levy...

The levy is currently $74.80...

[Williamson]

Perhaps a member of the Victorian Ozstoc community should put themselves up for selection to MCEP.

I put my hand up for a position on the MCEP, but wasn't selected.  Or was I, and can't tell you because of the confidentially clause I had to sign and thus perpetuate keep the cloud of secrecy the Panel operate under?

What I can say is that the meetings are all held at lunch time, very well catered and members are well compensated for their time.

[Langers]

With $15M+ in the kitty it's no surprise both the compensation and lunch menu is generous (other people's money again).

[ruSTynutz]

Perhaps a member of the Victorian Ozstoc community should put themselves up for selection to MCEP.

I put my hand up for a position on the MCEP, but wasn't selected.  Or was I, and can't tell you because of the confidentially clause I had to sign and thus perpetuate keep the cloud of secrecy the Panel operate under?

What I can say is that the meetings are all held at lunch time, very well catered and members are well compensated for their time.

According to Vicroads, the appointed members of the MCEP are:

Su-Nhi Arkcoll
Simon Bailey
Stacey Ciriello
Brian Rix
Rob Salvatore
Christopher Sleeman
Lloyd Toffolon

Which one are you, Michael...Stacey???   

[NTRebel]

With $15M+ in the kitty it's no surprise both the compensation and lunch menu is generous (other people's money again).

yep always better when it's OP

[Williamson]

Unfortunately Vicroads will apply the levy to every motorcycle you own unless told otherwise so don't assume you're not paying the levy multple times.

A look at your registration papers will tell you nothing as the levy is included in the TAC component so many riders will be unaware that there is even a road safety levy included at all.
Even a browse of the Vicroads website will not confirm that you only have to pay the one levy...piss poor in my view!
The only way you'll find it is by going to the TAC website: https://www.tac.vic.gov.au/about-the-tac/our-organisation/transport-accident-charge (scroll down to "Motorcycle Safety Levy)

So, my advice is to visit Vicroads and make sure you're only paying the one levy...

The levy is currently $74.80...

This topic has been discussed a number of times amongst motorcycling colleagues, albeit not for a few years now.  But of those that have multiple registrations, without fail, they all know they need to pay only one levy.

According to Vicroads, the appointed members of the MCEP are:

Su-Nhi Arkcoll
Simon Bailey
Stacey Ciriello
Brian Rix
Rob Salvatore
Christopher Sleeman
Lloyd Toffolon

Which one are you, Michael...Stacey???   

... the confidentially clause ...

[ruSTynutz]

This topic has been discussed a number of times amongst motorcycling colleagues, albeit not for a few years now.  But of those that have multiple registrations, without fail, they all know they need to pay only one levy.

Good to hear, but that would be no thanks to Vicroads as, like I pointed out, there's is no mention on the Vicroads website and there's also nothing informing riders on their motorcycle rego renewal.

I know at least one of our members who happens to own multiple bikes and they didn't know so I believe it's a subject worth bringing up.

Hopefully they have saved themselves hundreds of dollars by informing Vicroads. 

[Bodø]

Which one are you, Michael...Stacey???   

You may scoff but one of my former co-workers was a he and his name was Stacey.