Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
We know. The Northern Territory government announced towards the end
of last week that they're going to be cutting red
tape through reforms to light vehicle roadworthy inspections. So from
the fifth of January next year, light vehicles less than
ten years old will no longer require periodic road worthy inspections.
They say it's in line with most other Australian states
(00:21):
and territories. Instead, inspections will only be required for light
vehicles over ten years old and in certain circumstances. Now
joining us on the line from AAENTNG it is Simon Matthias.
Good morning to you, Simon, Katie. Are you yeah, really good?
Lovely to have you on the show, Simon? What's your
(00:42):
reaction to these changes?
Speaker 2 (00:45):
AA and T is broadly supportive, Katie. We certainly support
the intent of making life easier for motoris and I
think this will do that. Will all be the MVR
and stuck in those long queues and then, you know,
had a roadworthy vehicle inspection for a relatively modern car
(01:07):
that you know, it kind of seems a little unnecessary
to have an inspection. So we are supportive, but of
course the big issue is is it going to compromise safety,
and we don't think it will. I've spoken to my
counterparts at other auto clubs who have got, you know,
(01:29):
very well resourced road safety research programs, and that some
of them have don't have looked into this because most
states have a similar set up now to what MT
is moving towards, and they don't believe that it's going
to adversely impact safety outcomes. Modern cars now have good
safety features and most come with a high end cap
(01:52):
safety lady. So you know, sometimes getting an inspection on
a car that's quite modern feels like a bit of
a box ticking exercise. And if inspectors are being deployed
to areas where you know there are genuine road safety
concerns such as heavy vehicles for example, then we consider it.
(02:13):
It's a good thing.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
So I mean, by the sounds of it, it is
something that's happening in other states. Do you know if
it's happening in all other states or just a few
of them.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
I'm pretty sure I can't say all states, but the
vast majority have now you know, well some of them
have never never had the compulsory roadworthy tests for vehicles
under ten years of age and don't forget. Also, they're
still going to happen here, but it's now only going
to occur when the vehicles being sold and they are
(02:46):
over ten years old, so they're still going to happen.
You know, it's not without some concern. You know, we're
interested to know what effect this is going to have
on law enforcement, because we don't want police now, you know,
being diverted to defecting cars more than they already are
and taking away from other areas of policing. So that's
(03:08):
something that will need to be monitored. MT is a
bit different in that, you know, we do have conditions
that cause wear and tear on cars, and they've got
long distances between destinations and so on. So that makes
us a little bit different from the rest of the
country or most parts of the country. So that's also
(03:29):
going to need to be to be looked at. And
we also you know, I know the MTA, the Motor
Traders Association aren't that's thrilled about it because they feel
it's going to well, it was done without consultation and
they feel it could have taken away you know, work
from mechanics and repairers. But I know that you know,
(03:53):
we exist to represent the interests of our members and
motorists and we think they can venience certainly going.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
Well. And that's you know. When the Minister for Logistics
and Infrastructure, Bill Yan made the announcement, he said, the
reforms are about putting practical measures in place that maintain
road safety while reducing unnecessary costs for drivers. I mean,
it is something that can be costly if you're having to,
you know, to take your car through the m VR
(04:26):
to to sort of get it, you know, checked in
that way. The only thing that I sort of wonder Simon,
and please talk me through it if you can. I mean,
when you we know that one of the requirements is
that you are still going to need to to obviously
do that if you're transferring ownership, I guess you just
see lots of cars like sold you know online now,
(04:46):
like you know, on on Facebook and things like that
are on marketplace. I mean, I'm assuming that you're still
going to have to do all the right things and
follow the correct you know, rules and requirements. But is
there a worry sometimes it could sort of slip through
the gaps.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
Yeah, certainly, it's always a concern, and you know, there
is still the requirement, as I said, to get the
inspection done when you are transferring ownership of vehicles that
are over ten years old. But you know the purpose
of a road where the test is exactly that or inspection,
I should say, it's to tell you whether the car
(05:26):
is roadworthy or it's not. And ultimately it's car owners
that are responsible for the condition of their car. And
we think that you know, people still need to get
their car service, they need to maintain their car and
perhaps you know, they don't want to become reliant on
(05:46):
a vehicle inspector, you know, telling them that they need
you tires. We want to see motorists actually taking more
responsibility for the condition of their car and you know,
so that that is going to be a really important thing.
You know, we have to see vatorus keeping the maintenance
(06:07):
of their vehicles.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
Up, which is definitely a great thing in theory, Simon.
But do you reckon everyone's going to do that?
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Well, no, of course not. And there's going to be
things slipped through through the gaps, there's no doubt about that.
But getting getting your regular servicing is critical and yeah,
that's that's certainly not going to.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
Change, Simon. Just on to another thing that you and
I talk about very often, and that is indeed the
road toll. And we are in the school holidays at
the moment. I know, there's lots of families out and
about going camping, heading off to different locations. I mean,
even late yesterday afternoon a friend of mine was sort
of sending through photographs and also video of care flight
(06:55):
having to land out near Acasia following on from a
car crash. I mean, we just continue to see issues
on our roads at the moment.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
We do. And as you know, we had an absolutely
horrendous year in twenty twenty four and twenty twenty five
started off in a much better way. Acknowledgment of course
that any death is one too many, but we've certainly
seen a bit of a spike in recent days and
(07:28):
weeks that the road toll is creeping up again. As
you say, Okai, it's school holidays or people on the roads,
and we just have to you know, you can never
never say it too often, please take care on the
roads because we have to reduce the number of fatalities
on our roads. We have a road toll that's four
(07:49):
times higher than the national average, and it's completely unatipped
and we have to weigh.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
That it is well. Simon Matthias Ant CEO, always appreciate
your time. Thanks very much for having a chat with
us today.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
Thanks Cody, thank you.
We know. The Northern Territory government announced towards the end
of last week that they're going to be cutting red
tape through reforms to light vehicle roadworthy inspections. So from
the fifth of January next year, light vehicles less than
ten years old will no longer require periodic road worthy inspections.
They say it's in line with most other Australian states
(00:21):
and territories. Instead, inspections will only be required for light
vehicles over ten years old and in certain circumstances. Now
joining us on the line from AAENTNG it is Simon Matthias.
Good morning to you, Simon, Katie. Are you yeah, really good?
Lovely to have you on the show, Simon? What's your
(00:42):
reaction to these changes?
Speaker 2 (00:45):
AA and T is broadly supportive, Katie. We certainly support
the intent of making life easier for motoris and I
think this will do that. Will all be the MVR
and stuck in those long queues and then, you know,
had a roadworthy vehicle inspection for a relatively modern car
(01:07):
that you know, it kind of seems a little unnecessary
to have an inspection. So we are supportive, but of
course the big issue is is it going to compromise safety,
and we don't think it will. I've spoken to my
counterparts at other auto clubs who have got, you know,
(01:29):
very well resourced road safety research programs, and that some
of them have don't have looked into this because most
states have a similar set up now to what MT
is moving towards, and they don't believe that it's going
to adversely impact safety outcomes. Modern cars now have good
safety features and most come with a high end cap
(01:52):
safety lady. So you know, sometimes getting an inspection on
a car that's quite modern feels like a bit of
a box ticking exercise. And if inspectors are being deployed
to areas where you know there are genuine road safety
concerns such as heavy vehicles for example, then we consider it.
(02:13):
It's a good thing.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
So I mean, by the sounds of it, it is
something that's happening in other states. Do you know if
it's happening in all other states or just a few
of them.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
I'm pretty sure I can't say all states, but the
vast majority have now you know, well some of them
have never never had the compulsory roadworthy tests for vehicles
under ten years of age and don't forget. Also, they're
still going to happen here, but it's now only going
to occur when the vehicles being sold and they are
(02:46):
over ten years old, so they're still going to happen.
You know, it's not without some concern. You know, we're
interested to know what effect this is going to have
on law enforcement, because we don't want police now, you know,
being diverted to defecting cars more than they already are
and taking away from other areas of policing. So that's
(03:08):
something that will need to be monitored. MT is a
bit different in that, you know, we do have conditions
that cause wear and tear on cars, and they've got
long distances between destinations and so on. So that makes
us a little bit different from the rest of the
country or most parts of the country. So that's also
(03:29):
going to need to be to be looked at. And
we also you know, I know the MTA, the Motor
Traders Association aren't that's thrilled about it because they feel
it's going to well, it was done without consultation and
they feel it could have taken away you know, work
from mechanics and repairers. But I know that you know,
(03:53):
we exist to represent the interests of our members and
motorists and we think they can venience certainly going.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
Well. And that's you know. When the Minister for Logistics
and Infrastructure, Bill Yan made the announcement, he said, the
reforms are about putting practical measures in place that maintain
road safety while reducing unnecessary costs for drivers. I mean,
it is something that can be costly if you're having to,
you know, to take your car through the m VR
(04:26):
to to sort of get it, you know, checked in
that way. The only thing that I sort of wonder Simon,
and please talk me through it if you can. I mean,
when you we know that one of the requirements is
that you are still going to need to to obviously
do that if you're transferring ownership, I guess you just
see lots of cars like sold you know online now,
(04:46):
like you know, on on Facebook and things like that
are on marketplace. I mean, I'm assuming that you're still
going to have to do all the right things and
follow the correct you know, rules and requirements. But is
there a worry sometimes it could sort of slip through
the gaps.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
Yeah, certainly, it's always a concern, and you know, there
is still the requirement, as I said, to get the
inspection done when you are transferring ownership of vehicles that
are over ten years old. But you know the purpose
of a road where the test is exactly that or inspection,
I should say, it's to tell you whether the car
(05:26):
is roadworthy or it's not. And ultimately it's car owners
that are responsible for the condition of their car. And
we think that you know, people still need to get
their car service, they need to maintain their car and
perhaps you know, they don't want to become reliant on
(05:46):
a vehicle inspector, you know, telling them that they need
you tires. We want to see motorists actually taking more
responsibility for the condition of their car and you know,
so that that is going to be a really important thing.
You know, we have to see vatorus keeping the maintenance
(06:07):
of their vehicles.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
Up, which is definitely a great thing in theory, Simon.
But do you reckon everyone's going to do that?
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Well, no, of course not. And there's going to be
things slipped through through the gaps, there's no doubt about that.
But getting getting your regular servicing is critical and yeah,
that's that's certainly not going to.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
Change, Simon. Just on to another thing that you and
I talk about very often, and that is indeed the
road toll. And we are in the school holidays at
the moment. I know, there's lots of families out and
about going camping, heading off to different locations. I mean,
even late yesterday afternoon a friend of mine was sort
of sending through photographs and also video of care flight
(06:55):
having to land out near Acasia following on from a
car crash. I mean, we just continue to see issues
on our roads at the moment.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
We do. And as you know, we had an absolutely
horrendous year in twenty twenty four and twenty twenty five
started off in a much better way. Acknowledgment of course
that any death is one too many, but we've certainly
seen a bit of a spike in recent days and
(07:28):
weeks that the road toll is creeping up again. As
you say, Okai, it's school holidays or people on the roads,
and we just have to you know, you can never
never say it too often, please take care on the
roads because we have to reduce the number of fatalities
on our roads. We have a road toll that's four
(07:49):
times higher than the national average, and it's completely unatipped
and we have to weigh.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
That it is well. Simon Matthias Ant CEO, always appreciate
your time. Thanks very much for having a chat with
us today.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
Thanks Cody, thank you.
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