MOTOR REGISTRATION LABELS

Ms THOMPSON (Reynell) (14:52): My question is to the Minister for the Public Sector. Can the minister please inform the house of the benefits associated with the abolition of registration labels?

The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN (Napier—Minister for Finance, Minister for the Public Sector) (14:52): I thank the member for Reynell for her question. The legislation to eliminate registration labels for light vehicles such as cars, motorcycles, trailers, horse floats and caravans in South Australia was introduced as part of the Statutes Amendment (Budget 2010) Bill and was implemented from 1 July 2011. This initiative provides increased efficiencies in the way we do business, particularly around the processing and production of registration labels. Not requiring registration labels—

Mr Williams interjecting:

The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN: They are having a bit of trouble with the introduction of new technology, Deputy Speaker. Not requiring registration labels affixed to light vehicles will deliver significant savings in the order of $5.7 million over four years, which can be more strategically utilised. Although segments of the community and a few on the front bench might be hesitant to embrace change to our long-standing registration process, South Australians stand to benefit from being able to access—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN: —online services—and I will explain to the deputy leader what an online service is—supporting the initiative and the resultant reduction in queue waiting times in Service SA centres. Service SA has—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN: —implemented—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN: You don't want to see improvement, then? Service SA has implemented a variety of facilities that allow customers to conveniently check the registration status of a vehicle, including via the EzyReg website, a 1300 hotline and—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN: —smartphone applications.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Members on my left will be quiet. I can't hear the minister.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN: Madam Speaker, you would be interested to note that to date more than 215,000 inquiries have been made using these methods. For those citizens who prefer the traditional way, they can retain the tear-off slip from the registration details certificate and place it in the glove box of their car. It contains no personal information. Alternatively, citizens can purchase a registration reminder sticker from the RAA for a nominal fee.

Further to these developments, the South Australia Police can check light vehicle registrations via mobile devices, moving to the next generation of technologies where computing and mobile devices are a natural alternative for conducting business.

Finally, those South Australians concerned about travelling interstate without a registration label can be assured that interstate road transport authorities have been advised of the elimination of registration labels in South Australia, and I understand a number of the states are contemplating following the lead that South Australia has taken on this particular matter. SAPOL has also been in contact with its interstate counterparts, who also carry the same technology in their police patrol vehicles.