Latest News

He's Doohan it for road safety

Oct 31, 2009

FORMER world motorcycle champion Mick Doohan is the new face of safe riding in South Australia.

Mr Doohan said a graphic new TV commercial, which superimposes everyday objects like phone boxes and trees on to a motorcycle track, should leave no doubt about the consequences of a street crash.

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See video here

Two wheels wins in crowded Sydney

Oct 28, 2009

Rising fuel costs, congestion, no parking, poor public transport and environmental concerns are driving up motorcycle use.

Yet, transport policy lags far behind and has failed to create equity for this growing group of road users.

Sydney Council’s move to free motorcycle parking one year ago has been widely applauded and embraced. Yet, the State Government has failed to create road toll and registration equity, and has inadequately invested in safety campaigns, according to the Motorcycle Council of NSW.

“The total spend on safety campaigns since 2003 has been less than four million,’’ Guy Stanford of the Motorcycle Council of NSW said. “But it makes economic sense to move to a scooter or small bike. The average car journey carries 1.1 people, rolling a tonne-and-a-half to shift just one person.

“Motorcycles are less than 200kg. A lot of people are shifting to motorcycles for convenience, initially because of the overstretched public transport system. But as petrol prices start to bite, it makes economic sense. There has been a big growth in 250cc bikes.’’

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Motorcycle Buyers Encourage to Take Advantage of Economic Incentives

Oct 12, 2009

Figures released by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) show 82,601 motorcycles, scooters and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) were sold in the nine months to September – a 14.4 per cent decline compared to the same period in 2008.

“The motorcycle market has faced a period of challenging economic circumstances and although down on the record highs of last year has remained resilient,” FCAI Chief Executive Andrew McKellar said.

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Greenslips

Medical Care and Injury Services Levies.

When introduced, we were informed that the MCIS levies on CTP Greenslips would be $20 per year for any Greenslip. This is what the NSW public were told in the book produced and published by the Motor Accidents Authority and brought forth by Mr. David Bowen, CEO.

The MCC of NSW has recently been innundated with queries from riders wanting to know why the MCIS levies component of their Greenslip renewals is so high and so variable. This is better than cynically suggesting someone is ripping them off.

We have the paperwork from riders, showing MCIS levies from $46 to $204. All are more than $20.

The Government blurb says "A small price to pay. Greenslip prices have increased slightly to cover the cost of the new benefits"

SLIGHT ! That’s utter rubbish. This a bureaucratic statement to hide to the truth. It’s the words of an ambitious, disingenuous, and hypocritical operator, it exemplifies the most disagreeable traits of this government.

Hansard extract, NSW Legislative Assembly, 2 May 2006, page 47 (article 40).
Click this link to read Hansard - 2 May 2006 MCIS

The entire In Committee debate may be read directly from Hansard at the link above, however, the following statements are worthy of note:-

Mr CHRIS HARTCHER (Gosford)

“.........The New South Wales Government has achieved a gold medal performance for its incompetence in financial management, and its promises about the cost of anything cannot be trusted.............

.............Opposition members are determined to ensure that the Government is held accountable for its promise that the additional premium motorists will pay for compulsory third party green slips will be limited to an average of $20...............”

OK, Mr Hartcher and the Opposition, you have a job to complete to maintain accountability. Please don’t let yourselves down by going weak in your determination. This is a perfect illustration of why we need politicians with determination, courage and sound ethics.

What is the Lifetime Care & Support Sheme?

Lifetime Care and Support – MAA website - click here

The LTCS Scheme was established under the Motor Accidents (Lifetime Care & Support) Act 2006 to provide treatment, rehabilitation and attendant care to people who have been severely injured in a motor accident regardless of who was at fault in the accident. Eligibility for the scheme is determined by the severity of the person's injuries. Most people who are eligible will have a spinal cord injury or moderate to severe brain injury, or in some cases serious burns or amputations.

The scheme will be implemented in two stages: it will apply to children where the accident happens on or after 1 October 2006. It will apply to all severely injured people from 1 October 2007. The scheme will be administered by the Lifetime Care & Support Authority (LTCSA) which began on 1 July 2006.