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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-06-13 Daily Xml
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SPECIAL INTEREST VEHICLE REGISTRATION SCHEME

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (15:32): I rise to speak on the proposed special interest vehicle registration scheme that was proposed to the government. The government was approached by representatives of the special interest vehicle clubs and owners to consider a special interest vehicle registration scheme. In doing so, it would include all vehicles acceptable under the concessional historic vehicle registration scheme that were manufactured up to 1979 that have been modified.

It would also encompass vehicles that must be legally registered and the owner a member of a recognised special interest vehicle club. Rather than a reduced registration fee, as historic vehicles have, the proposal was to pay the full registration fee for three months and drive the vehicle on any 90 days of the year (with the use of a log book) over that 12 month period. However, the government extended historic registration to only street rod vehicles manufactured prior to 1949. There are approximately 800 of these vehicles in South Australia.

By not extending the scheme to special interest and customised vehicles manufactured up to 1979 some 15,000 vehicles and their owners have missed out. Those owners have contacted me en masse, particularly in the electorate of Chaffey, knowing that I am very much a strong advocate and supporter of special interest vehicles. These owners rightfully feel discriminated against, and they have considered that it is now perhaps no longer worth owning such a vehicle as it incurs such costs to keep both their everyday vehicle and a special interest vehicle in the garage.

This places at risk events like the Big River Nationals, held at the Riverland at the Field Day site just recently in April this year. I attended that event, and it was spectacular to see the 5,000 spectators there over two days. There were 500 entrants from all over Australia. It was great to see that those vehicles had been pulled out of the garage and brought to the event. It was supported by around 29 sponsors and it returned about $15,000 to local community organisations, sporting clubs and schools. More importantly, it generated $2 million for the local economy.

These cars are almost an industry locked away in the garages of these enthusiasts, who now are questioning the viability of owning a vehicle and being able to afford the expense of having to register and third-party insure these vehicles on an ongoing basis. These special vehicle owners estimate the government is potentially forgoing a revenue worth almost $6 million over the four-year period by excluding their vehicles manufactured between 1949 and 1979.

Being an enthusiast, I know it really does bring a lot of those vehicles out of their garages, out of the woodwork, and put them on display. It creates an industry, as I said, that had been locked up in garages. Essentially, supporting the enthusiasm is supporting an industry that could generate an economy, not just for the Riverland for the Big River Nationals, but all over the state, because there are enthusiasts who have those vehicles locked away under the watchful eye of the owners and who so proudly want to get them out to show them off.

Over time, I have worked with the transport department and met with them on many occasions, but again I feel as though I have been given lip service because again they have not been forthcoming with amendment of that legislation. It really is a sad indictment that they do not support those car enthusiasts. Again, I call on the government to re-enter negotiations and readdress an industry that is hidden away in the garages.

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