CONTRIBUTION TO STATUS AMENDMENT (TRANSPORT ONLINE TRANSACTIONS AND OTHER MATTERS) BILL

        (Continued from 20 June 2017.)

         The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (16:07): I rise to make a contribution on this bill, which is supported by the Liberal Party. The major purpose of this bill is to amend the interface to enable a range of online transactions to be made for the transport system, with some miscellaneous amendments also being made. The acts to be amended include the Motor Vehicles Act, Road Traffic Act, Highways Act, Heavy Vehicle National Law (South Australia) Act and Harbors and Navigation Act.

        The key focus is amendments to the Motor Vehicles Act so that customer and government
online transactions can be processed using more modern means, enabling, for instance, vehicle
registration transfers and notices of vehicle sales to be reported online, rather than using paper forms
and therefore having to be lodged in person, and new online options via EzyReg to continue in
conjunction with existing paper form methods.

        The government advises that there is potential for an extra half a million transactions to be
made online each year. Customers will be given the option of receiving communications
electronically rather than by post. Licences will be able to be renewed over the phone. Regarding
standard online registrations by clients, 275,000 accounts have been set up by customers, which
allow them to use direct debit as well as view their registration and demerit details.

        The bill also amends provisions for the accident towing roster scheme (I did not know there
was one, but anyway, the things you learn), whereby holders of tow truck certificates will no longer
be required to put their certification on their clothing. The definition of bicycle is being updated to
remove unicycles and scooters, which will provide consistency with the Australian Road Rules.

        Amendments to the Highways Act address ambiguities regarding whether a road is a road
or a public road, and certain roads will be vested in the Commissioner of Highways, so the
commissioner can enter into contracts to provide commercial activities on these roads. A range of
stakeholder groups were consulted by the opposition, including SAFC, SARTA, CCF, Master
Builders Association of SA and Bicycle Institute of SA, and no concerns were raised by any of those
stakeholders. With those remarks, I endorse the bill to the chamber.
Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. J.E. Hanson.