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4x4 LEVY

Submitted: Thursday, Apr 01, 2004 at 08:38

Willem

4x4 LEVY

I could not believe my eyes this morning when I collected my mail from my post office box. As I was expecting my new rego papers to come in I was not disappointed as they were there along with other mail and the usual supply of junk mail.

Looking at my papers to see to what degree the rego on my old truck had gone up by I saw that this time there was an attachment to the papers. Boldly printed at the top of the page is FOUR WHEEL DRIVE LEVY.

Our Government, in their wisdom, have introduced a bill into the Parliament, to collect in the form of a levy, a further $50 per year, from the owners of four wheel drive vehicles. This levy will apply to ALL Residents of South Australia and ALL Travellers passing through this State whether on holiday or just in transit. Exemptions do apply to In Transit 4x4’s but a Statutory Declaration has to be made by the driver or owner of the vehicle to state that. Four Wheel Drives registered with Government Licence Plates are also to be exempt.

The levy will be collected by Service Stations or Fuel Outlets if they notice that your vehicle is not displaying a window sticker with the relevant year stamped on it. As an incentive to facilitate this new ‘IMPOST’, the government is offering the collectors of the levy a 10% discount to collect the levy. In other words when you go to fuel up, the servo will be getting a once off $5 extra from you every year. Imagine how much money they are going to make!

The letter goes on to explain that due to the incredibly high number( according to them) of four wheel drive vehicles using the State roads on a regular basis and during peak holiday seasons, our outback bitumen roads as well as dirt roads and tracks are suffering enormous damage and the upkeep on them has risen by 200%. An example given is the new Orroroo to Hawker road in the Flinders Ranges where the bitumen is now breaking up despite the fact that Road Construction Company who built the road, having received an Engineering Best Practice Award from their peers for the quality of construction in 2003. The data on four wheel drives had been collected in the 2002/2003 financial year by those Vehicle Counter wires which are placed across the road and by a team of government employees who sit on the side of the roads counting vehicles and making notes. They have stated that the Orroroo-Hawker road had been used by 326,014 four wheel drive vehicles during the time of the survey.

The letter waffles on about other things as usual but at least there is body to which comments or representations can be made. Don’t know if this will help as the government states that it wishes enact the legislation by 1 July 2004.

You may write to The Chairperson, Four Wheel Drive Transport Levy Committee, G.P.O.Box X03, Adelaide, 5000, South Australia or ring Freecall 1800 846 980. But you have to be quick as no submissions will be entertained after 1 May 2004. I rang the number but got put in to a queue listening to inane music and every short while a voice would say “Your call is important to us………etc”. I gave up after ten minutes. Will try again later.

My rego is already $550 per year. I don’t know if I can afford another $50 on top of it. But then again it is only just under a dollar per week extra. Nothing is mentioned of the thousands of semi's, B doubles and Road Trains which ply our outback roads. Maybe we are just a soft target ready for milking.


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Willem

Before 4x4's...1972 Lancia Fulvia

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ThreadID: 11722 Replies: 17
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Thread Summary
AnswerID: 52755   Submitted: Thursday, Apr 01, 2004 at 08:59

Member - Eskimo replied:

Crap!!
its the 1st today willem!
Reply 1 of 17
FollowupID: 314649   Submitted: Thursday, Apr 01, 2004 at 19:32

Willem posted:

Some times Richard you do show intelligence

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FollowupID: 314689   Submitted: Friday, Apr 02, 2004 at 07:45

Nudenut posted:

Gee!!! Thanks Willem!

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AnswerID: 52756   Submitted: Thursday, Apr 01, 2004 at 09:01

Member - Al & Mrs Al (Vic) replied:

how long were you up thinking up that one Willie....ahahhahahahaha
"Life isn't measured by the breaths you take but by the things that take your breath away"



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Reply 2 of 17
FollowupID: 314644   Submitted: Thursday, Apr 01, 2004 at 19:26

Willem posted:

I woke up at 1.45am after going to bed early. Was a hard dayb yesterday setting up the the exhibition and today has been even harder but a long hot bath and a couple of bottles of red has soothed things...but I digress.....so I thought what can I do for April Fools Day?

No, it did not catch many beacuse youse are too smart but it was fun. I had a good giggle reading all the replies.

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FollowupID: 314647   Submitted: Thursday, Apr 01, 2004 at 19:30

Member - Al & Mrs Al (Vic) posted:

I initially thought..geez is that for real..then I thought, what's he doing going to his PO box that early...then I rememberd the date...ahhahaha
"Life isn't measured by the breaths you take but by the things that take your breath away"



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FollowupID: 314651   Submitted: Thursday, Apr 01, 2004 at 19:34

Willem posted:

I was going to say that I was taking Jeddah for a walk but then I thought that too many people knew that I have difficulty witrh walking....hehehehe

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FollowupID: 314653   Submitted: Thursday, Apr 01, 2004 at 19:40

Member - Al & Mrs Al (Vic) posted:

you could have walked her for physical therapy
"Life isn't measured by the breaths you take but by the things that take your breath away"



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AnswerID: 52757   Submitted: Thursday, Apr 01, 2004 at 09:02

Member - Bradley replied:

Hmm ' your call could not be connected' - nice try buddy.....

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Reply 3 of 17
AnswerID: 52758   Submitted: Thursday, Apr 01, 2004 at 09:03

Nudenut replied:

its true!
got mine also and hell i am really shiety about this!!!

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Reply 4 of 17
AnswerID: 52759   Submitted: Thursday, Apr 01, 2004 at 09:05

cokeaddict replied:

Hi willem,
Its a sad state of affairs knowing that we (the public) will all arc up after reading what you just noted here. But unfortunately, reality is, that's as far as we go. I cant remember the last time a group actually got together to protest something like this. To be honest, I cant see it happening again.
I remember way back in the 70's when the truckies blocked the main hwy's. It was the last time they ever did stand united, but they sure got what they wanted.
I have always agreed with unions when it came to reasonable protests, have been a member of the TWU for god knows how long. But sometimes they too seem to think they are god.
On this occasion i believe it can be stopped before it spreads into all other states. But it will take alot of organising and support, and that i'm affraid is where it all falls apart...no support when needed by us..the end users.
Just my opinion guys....but if something positive is organised with numbers backing it....count me in.
Regards angelo
I love it when you talk DIRTY !
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Reply 5 of 17
FollowupID: 314583   Submitted: Thursday, Apr 01, 2004 at 09:29

Baz (NSW) posted:

About time the rego in S.A became as dear as hear in N.S.W.

Baz.
FollowUp 1 of 3
FollowupID: 314655   Submitted: Thursday, Apr 01, 2004 at 20:07

Willem posted:

Some of us are very pleased we do not live in NSW

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FollowupID: 314664   Submitted: Thursday, Apr 01, 2004 at 21:03

Member - StevenL posted:

Hey Willem,

If you are retired and getting an age pension in NSW then your rego is FREE! One per person. My parents even got a refund backdated to the date the pension started (took Centrelink 8 months to sort it out).

And that is no fools day joke either!!!!!

I'd like to see Mr Foley allow THAT one here in SA.

Steven

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AnswerID: 52762   Submitted: Thursday, Apr 01, 2004 at 09:48

Topcat (WA) replied:

I wonder how much Telstra will make on the phone enquiries!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Good one Willem. Have a good trip to Adelaide & hope your teeth don't hurt too much.
Topcat
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Reply 6 of 17
FollowupID: 314648   Submitted: Thursday, Apr 01, 2004 at 19:30

Willem posted:

Thanks mate...teeth are a bugger!

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FollowupID: 314690   Submitted: Friday, Apr 02, 2004 at 07:47

Nudenut posted:

its just clicked...how come you got your own teeth at your age hehehe

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AnswerID: 52777   Submitted: Thursday, Apr 01, 2004 at 10:49

Paul's lot replied:

Maybe the gov. in S.A. figures that if its residents are silly enough to try and con everyone with such rubbish on April Fools day the they are probably silly enough to pay a levy such as that.

Just kidding!!
Reply 7 of 17
AnswerID: 52786   Submitted: Thursday, Apr 01, 2004 at 11:29

Pesty replied:

Looks like you got one cokeadict!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Reply 8 of 17
FollowupID: 314603   Submitted: Thursday, Apr 01, 2004 at 11:49

Pesty posted:

Sorry, post directed at willem, ( looks like you got one, cokeadict!!!!!)
Cheers
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AnswerID: 52791   Submitted: Thursday, Apr 01, 2004 at 11:57

tim replied:

Looks like no stopping in Sth Aus anymore.
Can only be a good thing hahahahaha
Reply 9 of 17
AnswerID: 52792   Submitted: Thursday, Apr 01, 2004 at 12:00

Big Trev replied:

Don't laugh. Don't you remember the days when Jeff (the hair) Kennet hit us Victorians with a $50 levy to go to maintaing the State Reserves. Payable with our Rego.
Reply 10 of 17
AnswerID: 52801   Submitted: Thursday, Apr 01, 2004 at 13:16

Member - Toonfish replied:

gotta get up earlier than that to catch us here Willem!!
Reply 11 of 17
AnswerID: 52805   Submitted: Thursday, Apr 01, 2004 at 13:46

Bazza replied:

G'Day Willem,
** Excellent!! ** ( if you use the right bait ... you'll catch fish! )
I wonder why the regulars havent responded yet ... maybe their still checking out your info?
LOL,
Regards,
Bazza.
Reply 12 of 17
FollowupID: 314710   Submitted: Friday, Apr 02, 2004 at 11:23

Member - Des Lexik(SA) posted:

Bazza, being one of the regulars, I hadn't responded as I've been too busy to check the forum out for a couple of days.
We would have seen through Willie anyway.

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AnswerID: 52818   Submitted: Thursday, Apr 01, 2004 at 14:55

Truckster (Vic) replied:

Beliveve it or not but the 4wd association of Vic is all FOR THIS LEVY!!!

Even our club, the sheep they are, are dumb enough to be agreeing with it since the association "GOD OF ALL PEOPLE" to them, are saying we should do it... doesnt help when pres and vice pres are association reps...
Reply 13 of 17
FollowupID: 314667   Submitted: Thursday, Apr 01, 2004 at 21:48

Crackles posted:

The 4x4 association are all for it because last time they were paid quite a few thousand $ out of the kitty which helped immensly with the huge financial costs they had and kept our association fees down. This money was fairly well spent and went along way to saving track closures in the high country. Many tracks were repaired, sign posts and toilets were installed. The money was mainly spent in the bush and didn't go into consolidated revenue. At $40 you could even say it was good value.
If our association aren't well funded we risk being over run by the greens. & what's $40 today? Not even 1/2 a tank of fuel.
Unfortunatly we have to pay to keep our tracks open. Craig.......
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FollowupID: 314682   Submitted: Thursday, Apr 01, 2004 at 23:44

Truckster (Vic) posted:

"Unfortunatly we have to pay to keep our tracks open."

Horsebleep.. You dont already pay Tax thru the ass?? I pay enough tax thanks to do my bit, if the Gov cant manage it thats not my problem, but Im against it..

then there will be a $40 walking levy if you get out of the car, then a $40 levy to use your winch.. then...

WHERE DOES TAXING THE WORKER STOP? cause all the levy is IS another Tax.
FollowUp 2 of 2
AnswerID: 52831   Submitted: Thursday, Apr 01, 2004 at 16:43

Davoe replied:

Thank goodness I live in Kalgoorlie, being a mining town and surrounded by 100s of ks of remote bushland the anti 4wd losers dont get a look in..................yet!
Reply 14 of 17
AnswerID: 52840   Submitted: Thursday, Apr 01, 2004 at 17:16

GOB & denny vic member replied:

well done willem
steve with beard & hair???
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Reply 15 of 17
AnswerID: 52843   Submitted: Thursday, Apr 01, 2004 at 17:24

Member -Bob & Lex (Sydney) replied:

Only got 1 willem, The 4bys passing thru blew it for you.
Regards Bob
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Reply 16 of 17
FollowupID: 314638   Submitted: Thursday, Apr 01, 2004 at 19:00

Willem posted:

Bob and Lex,

Win some lose some. Was a good story though?

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AnswerID: 52860   Submitted: Thursday, Apr 01, 2004 at 18:46

Diesel Do replied:

Willem,
Just stop whinging and pay up. This levy is entirely justified. Based on the stated figures there have been at least two 4wd per minute passing over the Oororoo to Hawker road every minute of every day for the 1 year duration of the survey.

Given that this is a relatively minor road, and must be fed from other main roads throughout the state I guestimate that there must have been more than 5 million 4wd travelling around on SA roads 24 hours per day for that whole year. I didn't personally notice them - but I've got to sleep sometime. Buggers must have waited till the lights went out at my place.

No wonder the roads are going to crap.

Bloody 4wd!

regards,
Reply 17 of 17
FollowupID: 314659   Submitted: Thursday, Apr 01, 2004 at 20:40

Willem posted:

Mrs Palm and her five daughters must have a special attraction for you.:-)

Cheers

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Willem

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FollowupID: 314668   Submitted: Thursday, Apr 01, 2004 at 21:53

Diesel Do posted:

Not nice Willem.

A quick check reveals that your namesake "Willem III Prince of Orange" married his cousin and had at least two male lovers.

Personal stuff doesn't seem to fit with the intended humour of this thread does it?

;-)

regards,
FollowUp 2 of 4
FollowupID: 314683   Submitted: Thursday, Apr 01, 2004 at 23:45

Truckster (Vic) posted:

The levy is NOT justified in ANYWAY.

You already PAY tax... Dont you?
FollowUp 3 of 4
FollowupID: 314726   Submitted: Friday, Apr 02, 2004 at 15:06

Willem posted:

Diesel Do,

Yes personal stuff distracts from humour intended or unintended. Unfortunately I react to most smart comments...some I leave alone. I can't equate your Diesel screen name with anything. But what is wrong with marrying your cousin and having male lovers? I won't go in to that on this forum but judging fro0m what we a dished up daily in the media it is A OK.

Cheers

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