MA RIDERS DIVISION MEDIA RELEASE

Media Release                              
                           
12 June 2012

Rider’s Division of Motorcycling Australia calls for Parliamentary Inquiry into Transport Accident Act

The Australian Rider’s Division of Motorcycling Australia (MA) and rider representative groups are calling on Premier Baillieu and the Victorian Government to initiate a Parliamentary Inquiry to review the scope and administration of the Transport Accident Act 1986.

Such an inquiry is long overdue, and will serve as an invaluable tool for identifying the critical shortfalls and weaknesses in how road safety measures and campaigns are developed and delivered to Victorian road users.

In addition to reviewing the Transport Accident Act, the inquiry should examine the equity of compensation paid to motorcyclists compared to drivers involved in identical cases.

The call comes in response to the recent Transport Accident Commission (TAC) advertising campaign ‘Reconstruction’ aimed at motorcyclists, which
fails to promote shared road user safety whilst presenting negative and dangerous stereotypes.

Following the recent Parliamentary Inquiry into Motorcycle Safety, which shone the spotlight on the TAC and their practices relating to motorcycle safety, the recent campaign fuels existing concerns.

Rob Smith, Manager of the Australian Rider’s Division, says the failure of the TAC’s latest campaign highlights the need for an urgent inquiry into the Transport Accident Act.

“While we cannot condone speeding, we are shocked and entirely disappointed that motorcyclists are once again being portrayed as reckless road users, even though quite clearly the driver who fails to give way is not identified as being at fault,” Mr Smith said.

“The onus of blame attributed to the rider would not apply if another car was involved. Such discrimination by a no-fault state owned insurance company demands review.”

The Australian Rider’s Division and rider representative groups are also calling on Premier Baillieu and the Victorian Government to establish regulations that govern the content and ethics of Road Safety campaigns in order the prevent misrepresentation or vilification of any road user group.

For further information or a copy of the communique, please contact Rob Smith, Manager of the Australian Rider’s division, on (03) 9684 0501 or

riders@ma.org.au