Comments on: Road tax – pay as you go

By: Phill

Phill — Sun, 11 May 2008 11:11:18 +0000

BAD…BAD…BAD

By: Cameron

Cameron — Fri, 09 May 2008 10:08:07 +0000

I like the idea – so long as it is administered well.
It’s a serious attempt to combat emissions by rewarding those who use their vehicles sparingly or use efficient vehicles. I’m tired of noisy, thirsty and road damaging V8s and larger 4×4s. If you choose to drive one, then I believe you should still have the choice – it will just cost you more.
It is the larger vehicles that cause the expensive maintenance to our infrastructure which could be put to good use elsewhere.

By: Andrew M

Andrew M — Fri, 09 May 2008 07:55:39 +0000

Jimbo,
dont be so sure that driving less k’s will save you $$$

i have a sweet 50 on the idea that charges will work on a sliding scale.
there will at least be a base charge like there is for water usage. they just wont call it “registration”.

like hell the government wont think of a way to get money of those that hardly drive, or go over seas for 6 months and leave the car in the garage

By: Road Warrior

Road Warrior — Fri, 09 May 2008 03:47:46 +0000

The Sarge is right…we don’t need this big brother/nanny state rubbish because we already have a “user pays” system in the form of petrol excise. The more you drive, the more you use. The more you use, the more you pay. Relevant to your engine size and other circumstances of course but it’s still relatively simple.

By: AGM

AGM — Fri, 09 May 2008 01:29:12 +0000

Yeah, from what I hear it would supposedly replace fuel tax, registration costs and so on. Looking at governments in general, and our present one in particular, I would be very surprised if this eventuated however.

By: Jimbo

Jimbo — Fri, 09 May 2008 01:14:34 +0000

Glen,

I don’t know if this is accurate. But when I first heard of this it was on Triple M and They explained it as replacing petrol excise, rego and tolls. GST will still be charged on petrol though.

By: Glen

Glen — Fri, 09 May 2008 00:39:00 +0000

My biggest question is if this pay as you go system is introduced, does that mean we still have to pay the registration fees? I don’t like this idea 1 bit. Yeah use it for tolled roads but if your going to get taxed on every little bit you drive even on small country roads, get stuffed. We pay enough to have a car already let alone pay more. Fair enough if it only taxed driving in congested areas during certain times of day but not every road all the time.

By: Jimbo

Jimbo — Thu, 08 May 2008 23:13:30 +0000

I live and work in a country town and drive a 1.6. I understand those who are against the possibility of this system. I know this will mean big brother will be watching me, but for me its hard to get upset at a new system that is going to benefit me so much.

By: AGM

AGM — Thu, 08 May 2008 22:15:05 +0000

And another note – if comparing cars with public transport they really need to ramp up the PT system first. Knowing this firsthand as a daily passenger on Brisbane’s crowded rail system, I consider driving to be a better option as only fractionally more expensive but far more convenient. More regular, higher quality and cheaper services are needed.

By: AGM

AGM — Thu, 08 May 2008 22:09:21 +0000

This kind of sucks – I really enjoy just going for a burl if I have a spare couple of hours over the weekend, and I really do not want the government telling me to stop! Evidently these days you have to be rich to continue enjoying motoring.
Also, I use my road car in car club events and track days – would the GPS tracker be recording every lap you do of Queensland Raceway and adding this to your charges, for example? What is to stop the govt charging for motorsport usage, under the guise of ‘environmental impacts’? Or nicking 4×4 owners for beach/bush driving? Then there is the whole speed issue – there is no way they should have the right to track-and-fine, which is no doubt the next step if our government was to enact this.

By: Hendrik

Hendrik — Thu, 08 May 2008 15:56:50 +0000

Its 21st century society people…

My father always told me if i dont get what i want then like what i get, only thing is… i like change, and i like this idea.

just one thing though, and i quote the article:

“The Neatherlands is a relatively small country in comparison to Australia..”

Im half dutch, and thats a massive understatement. you can drive across the country in less than 4 hours.

By: jamison

jamison — Thu, 08 May 2008 15:27:53 +0000

I agree with one of the first posts.

The incredibly HIGH petrol prices, over priced vehicles (in comparison to every other countries), the general higher costs of living (food, drinks, clothes etc)

Quiet frankly everyone pays a $hitload more just to live in Australia, let alone drive to work.

Someone who drives 40K+ kms a year (like me), already have to put up thousands of dollars more a year than the same person who travels the same distance in another country, who also paid half as much for his/her car.

Not only that, the ridiculous road regulations etc.. mainly speed cameras (should really be 10+ kmph over that should be fine, as this is the “un written” rule in the States, there are cameras but not as frequently placed as in Australia.

Pretty much, its just the government really encouraging public transport for the future, or atleast small, “green” vehicles on the road…

I dont disagree with that notion… but just that they let people suffer now, why dont they just rectify the public transport issue and make them better so people wont have to spend the extra 10 grand a year in comparison to about 6-7 years ago.

By: XR_2 Capri

XR_2 Capri — Thu, 08 May 2008 12:24:22 +0000

Nah

By: No Name

No Name — Thu, 08 May 2008 11:39:07 +0000

XR_2 Capri – how about making them at work fresh keeping stuff in the works fridge. If there ain’t a fridge tell the boss to get one in for 3 or 400 bucks.

Aww we’re being silly now :)

By: XR_2 Capri

XR_2 Capri — Thu, 08 May 2008 11:30:10 +0000

andrew m
at an average of $14 per week I am throwing caution to the wind.

I dont like sogy salad sambo’s I like them fresh

I have 2 capri’s so I will put the GPS on the one I am doing up, it doesnt go very far

By: Andrew M

Andrew M — Thu, 08 May 2008 11:27:27 +0000

mate i know that will never happen.

if only i were king for a day………

By: No Name

No Name — Thu, 08 May 2008 11:16:33 +0000

They wouldn’t pass it Andrew M. Most pollies come up with more and more red tape just to justify their existence. What they should do if think the bigger picture as to why things go the way they do and not just penalise people for doing stuff they enjoy, smoking, driving, drinking.

I think you’ll find that most have a dubious history as well.

By: Andrew M

Andrew M — Thu, 08 May 2008 11:10:20 +0000

woulldnt it be a great idea if the pollies had to withstand a 3 month probation period

By: Andrew M

Andrew M — Thu, 08 May 2008 11:09:25 +0000

XR2,
here is a novel idea to further halve your fuel bill,

dont travel home to get your lunch. make it in the morning or previous night and take it with you

By: No Name

No Name — Thu, 08 May 2008 11:07:58 +0000

Problem is we all tend to roll on our backs and become submissive due to complete amazement of the cheek of the pollies. Speak out then vote em out.