Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .
Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 4 Hansard (29 March) . . Page.. 1149 ..
MR RUGENDYKE (continuing):
In an answer to a follow-up question I raised in this house on 15 February, Mr Smyth said:
You have to start from the premise that most people are honest and most Canberrans are honest and do the right thing. There are those who, whether they get a sticker or not in their registration renewal notice, will not renew their registration. That, of course, will need enforcement and Urban Services will make sure that the AFP is aware of the changes and work out strategies for enforcement.
In the supplementary answer, Mr Smyth went on to say:
In New South Wales about two per cent of the labels are not being validated. We have troubles now with people who do not register their vehicles and we have enforcement. Urban Services and the police will work together to make sure that enforcement is effective.
Mr Speaker, I find it extremely curious that in the case of continuous registration the government is saying that changes at the centre of this debate are necessary to stamp out the so-called 16 per cent of registrations that are paid late. Mr Speaker, this is a totally inconsistent approach. On the one hand, the minister is saying that most Canberrans do the right thing. We have to start on the premise that they do do the right thing and rely on enforcement to weed out the problems. Yet, with continuous registration the minister is proposing these onerous new requirements that stand to disadvantage a range of people with genuine needs because he wants to come down hard on people who are not doing the right thing. Where is the enforcement policy in this case, Mr Speaker?
I should declare my interest as an avid car enthusiast. It is the members of the car clubs who stand to be hurt by the government's stand, and I proudly declare that I am a member of the Datsun Sportsowners Association of Australia.
Mr Berry: I wouldn't be that proud.
MR RUGENDYKE: They are magnificent sports cars, Mr Speaker. In fact they were the first of the Japanese sports cars to take on the MGAs, the Austin Healeys and those other Pommy cars.
Mr Berry: They haven't got enough cylinders, Dave.
Mr Hargreaves: The British racing green Datsun 180B.
Mr Moore: The 1600 sports?
MR SPEAKER: Order! No Volvo jokes, thank you. Let's get on with the debate.
MR RUGENDYKE: Mr Moore acknowledges the fantastic nature of the Datsun 1600.
Mr Moore: That's right. The Fairladies, 1600 Sport, 2000 Sport. Beautiful cars.
MR RUGENDYKE
: Beautiful cars, Mr Speaker. These cars are works in progress. I don't yet have to worry about these registration issues, but I do understand fully the issues that have been put forward by the motor clubs over the last few weeks, and there
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .