MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION

Ms BEDFORD (Florey) (15:08): I was going to ask a similar question to the Minister for Finance, and ask him now if he can provide further details to the house on the introduction of the additional payment option for vehicle registration?

The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN (Napier—Minister for Finance, Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety) (15:08): Thank you, member for Florey, for developing that question so quickly after the previous line of—

Ms Chapman: She's good.

The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN: She's excellent, isn't she? I thank the member for Florey for being so quick on her feet. I can advise the house that a new payment option will be introduced for vehicle owners—in fact, I do not think I really have to give that advice, do I, member for Bragg—to pay their registration using automated monthly direct debit from their nominated accounts. This initiative will reduce the impact of bill shock for people who currently have to pay vehicle registration quarterly or annually, and it will assist with household budgeting through bill smoothing.

It is part of the government's agenda to ensure that South Australia remains an affordable place to live. The government currently offers registration payments for light vehicles for three months and 12 months as single payments through a variety of payment methods. Direct debit will be attractive to customers who prefer the convenience of being able to pay bills automatically. They can set and forget, and spread the cost of registration over monthly increments to ease the financial burden on low income families, and that really is the major thrust of this particular initiative. Under the proposed arrangements, customers will be able to enrol online for direct debit payments to be taken from a nominated bank account or credit card. SMS or email reminders will be sent to customers before the direct debit to ensure sufficient funds are available.

After each successful payment, registration will be extended for one month and a registration certificate will be available to the customer electronically via a customer portal. Customers with insufficient funds in their nominated account on two consecutive occasions may be removed from the scheme and advised in writing to use an alternate payment method. This serves to prevent any confusion on the vehicle owner's part as to whether they are registered and prevent the unnecessary financial burden of bank fees associated with dishonoured debts.