1000 motorcyclists in CTP protest
Aug 31, 2010
About 1000 angry motorcyclists have taken to the street outside Parliament House in Sydney to protest at the high insurance premiums they say they are being forced to pay.
Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance premiums for motorcyclists have increased by as much as 105 per cent since the new Green Slip scheme introduced by the state government in July, they were told.
"In the eyes of this government, we motorcyclists seem to be bad and ugly," Motorcycle Council of NSW chairman Rob Colligan told the rally at midday (AEST) on Tuesday.
"Therefore we must be taxed off the road.
"We're here because we're not happy. In fact, we're deeply unhappy," Mr Colligan told the crowds of roaring bikies."
Several bikes roared up and down the road during the protest, but most motorcyclists stayed on the footpath and raised their helmets in solidarity.
Sydney's 500,000 motorcyclists were being punished despite being part of the solution to the city's infrastructure and environment problems, Mr Colligan said.
"As riders, we already play a big role in reducing greenhouse emissions.
"Our bikes use from just two litres to four litres per hundred kilometres."
NSW Nationals Leader Andrew Stoner told the rally the increase in premiums was "absolutely outrageous".
"The government has provided, through the Motor Accidents Authority, dodgy data over to the insurance companies that allows them to rip you off."
In a statement released earlier on Tuesday, Finance Minister Michael Daley said it was expected that more than 50 per cent of motorcycle riders would pay less for their Green Slip.
"The motorcycle riders who have experienced an increase in their Green Slip as a result of these changes are riding classifications of bikes that are over-represented in accidents."
Mr Colligan accused Mr Daley of "playing with figures", saying many decreases were only between $6 and $10.
"The rest (of the premiums) are going up in hundreds and hundreds of dollars so to use that is playing with figures," he told reporters after the rally.
"Great turn out great day"
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