Rob Lucas says SA Motor Vehicle Registry will not be privatised
South Australia’s Treasurer has confirmed the state’s Motor Vehicle Registry will stay in public hands – but his deal means another public asset will be privatised for longer.
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South Australia’s Motor Vehicle Registry will not be privatised in a move that will save the State Government an estimated $104 million, Treasurer Rob Lucas has announced.
However, the decision does mean the controversial privatisation of the Land Titles Office, instigated by the former Labor government, will be extended by seven years until 2064.
Mr Lucas said Labor’s 2017 decision to sell the Land Titles Office to private firm Land Services SA for $1.6 billion included a “secret deal” for an option to operate the MVR.
If the option was not completed, the State Government was required to pay Land Services SA $104 million or extend the 40-year term of the Land Titles Office privatisation.
Mr Lucas told The Advertiser that analysing the pros and cons of the two options had cost taxpayers $2.4 million.
“While we make no criticism of (Land Services SA) in relation to this deal, it’s been a costly exercise that’s entirely due to Labor’s gross deceit,” Mr Lucas said.
“It’s crystal clear that if Labor had been re-elected they were going to sell off the MVR.”
Mr Lucas said the Government would not proceed with the privatisation of the MVR for a number of reasons, including concerns over drivers’ privacy and loss of revenue.
Labor MP Tom Koutsantonis, who was treasurer when the deal with Land Services SA was struck, welcomed the decision not to privatise the MVR.
“It was the decision we would have also made,” he said
Mr Koutsantonis said the decision not to privatise the MVR highlighted the fact there was never a requirement to go ahead with the deal.