Call to scrap Victoria’s tax on motorcyclists amid claims of a slush fund for government

Rider groups are calling for a tax on Victorian motorcyclists to be scrapped amid claims it is being used as a state government slush fund.

The levy took $8.5m from riders last financial year. Picture: Matt Thompson

A tax on Victorian motorcyclists should be scrapped, rider groups say, because they claim it is discriminatory and is being used as a state government slush fund.

Victoria is the only state to charge an annual motorcycle safety levy – currently $78.

The fee is built into motorbike registration charges, harvesting $8.5m in the last financial year alone for the government. Many riders would be unaware of the levy’s existence.

The government says the charge pays for road improvements and projects that improve safety for riders.

But since its introduction in 2002, $34m of levy money still has not been spent.

Victorian Motorcycle Council spokesman John Eacott said levy funds spent on road improvements also showed demonstrable benefits to the safety of all road users.

“If such works makes it safer for all road users, then it should be funded from general revenue sources,’’ Mr Eacott said.

The budgeting and funding models were wrong, he said, because they did not prioritise “motorcycle specific” treatments or road design which, in turn, aided all road users.

“Re-engineering roads as somewhat of an afterthought to improve motorcycle safety is completely wrong,’’ he said.

Victoria is the only state to charge an annual motorcycle safety levy.

The Motorcycle Riders Association has also been lobbying to drop the levy.

MRA member Steve Bardsley wrote a paper describing “two decades of anti-motorcycle bias’’ in Victoria.

“This levy is enforced in the name of ‘road safety’, it is an unacceptable impost, which does not share the responsibility for road safety equally or fairly, it is a perfect example of anti-motorcycle bias,’’ he said.

A spokesperson for Roads and Road Safety Minister Melissa Horne said motorcyclists were among the most vulnerable road users.

“The Motorcycle Safety Levy contributes to infrastructure upgrades and projects that improve safety for motorcycle riders,’’ the spokesperson said.

“Since its introduction in 2002, the Motorcycle Safety Levy has invested almost $93 million in a range of targeted safety initiatives across motorcycle policy and law, education and research and road safety infrastructure improvements for motorcyclists.’’

But Mr Eacott questioned the spending commitments, saying there was a growing feeling it was being used as a slush fund.

“They praise themselves for the expenditure of $93m yet admit to taking $127m. Where is the other $34 million?’’ he said.

Current project include $2.8m for a dirt bike safety track at Neerim South in Gippsland, $813,000 for Heidelberg-Kinglake Rd improvements and $265,000 for a “crash card” stored inside a rider’s helmet and containing personal information in case of a crash.

Previous spending has paid for road improvements such as gravel removal and better edges on roads in the Alpine region.

So far this year 24 motorcyclists have died on Victoria’s road, down from 31 this time last year and also lower than the five-year average of 26.