David Rose says there’s a strong argument to change as ‘odd’ car rule

A Tasmanian car commentator says there’s a strong argument to review an ‘odd’ car rule, which means left-hand drive vehicles under 30-years old can’t be registered in Tasmania. UPDATED >

Dean Mundy with his left hand drive 1995 Corvette C4 at South Arm. Picture: Chris Kidd

There’s a “strong argument” for a review of the 30-year vehicle age requirement for the registration of left-hand drive vehicles in Tasmania, a leading motoring commentator says.

The Sunday Tasmanian revealed that Geilston Bay butcher Dean Mundy is unable to register his 1995 left-hand drive US-made Corvette because it is not yet 30 years old.

Veteran commentator and former journalist David Rose questioned whether the 30-year rule should still apply given all cars sold in Australia now are imported.

“This rule was introduced as a protectionist measure back in the days when Australia had a car manufacturing industry, to keep out European cars and American left-hand drives,” he said.

“But with the demise of the final local vehicle manufacturer a few years ago, there is longer a local car industry to prop-up or protect.”

Veteran commentator and former journalist David Rose.

Mr Rose said he believed Tasmania’s Registrar of Motor Vehicles had the discretion to permit registration of any broadly eligible vehicle, “left-hand drive or otherwise, with conditions”.

He said conditions could restrict the use of the vehicle to events such as car shows or special occasions.

“Discretion has obviously been given to newer vehicles currently seen on Tassie roads, such as garbage trucks and cranes,” Mr Rose said.

“The left-hand drive Tasmania Police BearCat anti-terrorism vehicle obviously has dispensation and there are probably others.”

Launceston car enthusiast Paul Wilson, who owns two left-hand drive cars including a 1955 Chevrolet and 1976 Pontiac Trans Am, said it was a very expensive process to convert to right hand drive and he hoped Mr Mundy “could be cut some slack”.

“It seems odd you can import a car that’s 25 years old but you can’t register it,” he said.

Mr Mundy, who works in the butcher shop his father has owned for the past 60 years, bought the $40,000 1995 Corvette, after sharing in a Tattslotto win.

He will be able to register the Corvette in 16 months.

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Dean Mundy is angry and frustrated that a Tasmanian road rule means his dream car, a $40,000 1995 Corvette, is sitting unused in his garage rather than out on the highway.

The hardworking Geilston Bay butcher was in a 20 member Tattslotto syndicate that recently won $5.3m.

He accidentally purchased two shares in the Glebe Hill syndicate so he won $538,062 all up.

He went to work the day after the win, paid off his home mortgage and bought the US made Corvette which is a left-hand drive.

Dean Mundy with his left hand drive 1995 Corvette C4 at South Arm. Picture: Chris Kidd

“I’m a hard worker, always have been, always will be and the money didn’t change that,” Mr Mundy said.

“Butchery is one of the lowest paid industries and we work 55 hours a week to make a decent living but my numbers came up.

“I’ve always loved Corvettes, since I was a little kid, maybe it was watching Miami Vice but I loved the back round tail lights. I was fascinated by the look.”

Mr Mundy, 55, who works in the butchery his grandad first opened, is a car lover, including Holden Geminis, but the luxury two-door Chevrolet Corvette was his piece de resistance.

He negotiated with the Queensland seller to include the Californian number plate of the car, which was built in October 1994 and had done only 140,000km.

“I took it to the mechanic who, because it was left-hand drive, had to change the direction of the headlights and do some other modifications.

“The mechanic rang me and said ‘are you sitting down?’.

“I thought he was going to tell me that mechanically it’s a bomb – I thought I’d bought a lemon

“But he said the car was fantastic, it was amazing but it couldn’t be registered in Tasmania because it wasn’t more than 30 years old.

“I bought that model because I thought it would be safer with airbags and more clean and efficient with better emissions and not polluting.

“I thought I was doing all the right things.”

As he waits 16 months to register the car, Mr Mundy is mystified why older cars can be registered but not newer models.

“The rule is ridiculous.

“They should be scrutinising older cars. If I’d bought a 50-year-old bomb that would be fine but where’s the sense in that?

“I’m pissed off to be honest.

“It is bureaucratic bulls … and there is just no logic to it. If there was I would accept it.”

A Department of State Growth spokesperson confirmed under Tasmanian laws left hand vehicles under 30 years of age cannot be registered.

“While the personal import of left-hand drive vehicles greater than 25 years of age is allowed under national laws, Tasmanian vehicle standards laws, which are based on nationally-consistent rules, mean left-hand drive vehicles cannot be registered if they are under 30 years of age,” he said.