Tuesday, 7 May 2024

Ministers statements: vehicle registration fees

Melissa HORNE (Williamstown – Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Local Government, Minister for Ports and Freight, Minister for Roads and Road Safety) (12:25): I ‍am delighted to update the house on how the Allan Labor government is providing cost-of-living relief to thousands of Victorian drivers by making rego free for apprentices. Rego has been free for eligible Victorian apprentices since July last year, and in that time 31,290 Victorians have each saved up to $876. Let us think about that for a minute. That is about $27 million back in the pockets of our hardworking apprentices since last year.

We know tradies need their vehicles to get to and from each job. They should not be worrying about where to find the cash for their rego. They should be getting out and about, getting the skills they need for the jobs they want. And now that we have eased this pressure on their budgets that is exactly what they are able to do. The member for Thomastown will know how important this is for the apprentices at Melbourne Polytechnic, and the member for Geelong will have seen the benefits for students at the Gordon Institute. I know the members for Wendouree and Eureka will know how much of a relief this is for students doing their apprenticeships through Federation Uni in Ballarat.

We on this side of the house are serious about helping families, which is why we have reduced other costs of keeping the car on the road, including short-term rego payments so the cost does not come in one big hit; giving safe drivers 25 per cent off rego renewal fees and saving them over $7 million a year; making learners and probationary licences and online tests free; and making learning to drive more accessible, supporting almost 2500 disadvantaged new drivers every year through free supervised driving experiences through the L2P program. This has empowered almost 15,000 learners to clock up almost 800,000 hours getting their Ps. Whilst those on the other side try to look busy, often wandering around with their Pensky files, we are getting on with the job of easing the cost of living for Victorians.