CLP promise rego freeze, free license renewal in cost of living appeal

The NT opposition has promised to freeze the cost of car rego and make driver’s licenses free for a year, as cost of living pressures remain front of voters’ minds ahead of the August election.

CLP Fannie Bay candidate Laurie Zio, Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro and Deputy Opposition Leader Gerard Maley. Picture: Fia Walsh.

The Northern Territory opposition has promised to freeze the cost of car registration and make driver’s licenses free for a year, as cost of living pressures remain front of voters’ minds ahead of the August election.

If the CLP wins government they will credit $36 to all 163,000 license holders in the Territory, and save vehicle owners less than $10 on registration – estimated to cost the budget $4.2m.

Under Labor car registration costs are set to increase by $7 for small cars and $9 for utes.

CLP Fannie Bay candidate Laurie Zio, Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro and Deputy Opposition Leader Gerard Maley. Picture: Fia Walsh.

The CLP would also introduce a new three-year registration option for trailers under 750kg, which currently require registration annually.

“If you’re a family with two cars, a box trailer and two drivers, what you’ll save is around $100 a year, but it will also mean you’re saving time because you will not have to come back to the motor vehicle registry every year like you would under Labor,” Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro said.

“This means less time waiting in a queue and more time on the road enjoying our great outdoor lifestyle.”

She said efficiencies generated by having people spend less time lining up would help pay for the policy.

Yogi’s Way owner Bhairab Yogi said rising costs was forcing his business to “get creative”, finding that if he increased menu prices too much customers would stop coming to the Stuart Park restaurant.

Moving from Sydney, the biggest hit to his hip pocket has been power prices – paying up to $2000 a month on his energy bill.

Yogi’s Way owner Bhairab Yogi and Essential Services Minister Kate Worden. The Darwin restaurant owner has welcomed the NT government's energy bill relief, saying his power bills can hit $2000 a month. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“Some months the power was significantly higher than rent,” Mr Yogi said.

“We’re receiving all these emails from all the fresh produce and small goods (suppliers), saying the prices are going up, and obviously we have to cover that somehow.”

He welcomed the government’s additional $55.2m power subsidy included in this year’s budget, bringing the total community service obligation to $164.2m.

Coupled with the federal government’s $300 energy bill relief credit, power costs for Territory households are estimated to be $1500 less on average in the next financial year, compared to if this support was not provided.

Small businesses are estimated to save an average $2200, plus the federal government’s $325 small business credit.

Essential Services Minister Kate Worden said power prices could be kept low because Power and Water and Territory Generation were publicly owned, accusing the opposition of wanting to sell the assets – something Ms Finocchiaro has expressly denied.

“The increased cost of living is being felt by all Territorians and that’s why we are investing more than $200m in cost of living support for Territory households and small businesses,” Ms Worden said.