Motorcyclists get raw deal from the City of Perth

Transport Minister Simon O'Brien says the City of Perth's decision to charge motorcyclists to park in the CBD, despite an earlier State Government decision to scrap the parking levy on motorcycle spaces, is a cynical revenue-raising activity.

Mr O'Brien said until recently the City of Perth was obliged to pay the Government $91 per motorcycle bay per year through the Perth Parking Management Act, money which was ultimately reinvested in the city's public transport network.

"Earlier this year, in recognition of the role that motorcycles play in reducing traffic congestion, the Government removed the $91 parking levy altogether from designated motorcycle parking bays," he said.

"This action removed a financial incumbency on parking providers to charge motorcyclist parking fees, as there is now no longer a levy to recoup.

"Information listed on the City of Perth's website shows the council is still charging motorcyclists to park, despite there now being no reason to do so.

"Motorcycles do not add to traffic congestion and use very little space when parking. "

The Lord Mayor of the City of Perth, Lisa Scaffidi, has previously stated:

'The Council recognises the environmental benefits of using

motorcycles and is keen to encourage their use.'

(CoP Media Statement, 29/05/2009)

"The City of Perth must explain to motorcyclists why they are being charged to park, when the Government has removed the parking levy," the Minister said.   

"Between 2005 and 2010, the City of Perth will have raised more than $200million from parking fees, with somewhere in the vicinity of only about $18million being remitted by them to the State Government under the terms of the Perth Parking Management Act.

"Funds paid to the Government through the levying of parking spaces in the Perth CBD can only be spent in accordance with the Perth Parking Management Act."

Mr O'Brien said recent claims by the City of Perth and the State Opposition that the Government planned to hoard the proceeds of the Perth Parking Levy, instead of reinvesting it in public transport, as required by the Perth Parking Management Act, were wrong.

"Under the system which has existed for many years, money received by the Government through the parking levy is reinvested in free CBD public transport, such as the CAT or free transit zone scheme," he said.

"This will be no different in the future.

"Unlike the previous Labor government which wasted the boom years and failed to plan for the future, the Liberal-National Government is currently considering the long term requirements of the metropolitan public transport network.

"It is only logical that future public transport initiatives for the central Perth area, which comply with the requirements of the legislation, be funded through this stream."