CHANGES under the VicRoads Modernisation process announced by the State Government on Thursday included rewards for safe driving, and free online testing for learners and probationary licences, meaning learner and probation drivers will save up to $51.40 and $133.30 in testing fees, respectively.
Treasurer, Tim Pallas, and Roads and Road Safety minister, Ben Carroll, made the announcement following a 15-month consultation process with VicRoads workers, unions, motorist groups and other stakeholders to streamline processes and make registration and licensing easier.
Safe drivers who have not incurred demerit points or committed road safety offences in the three years prior to their licence expiring will be rewarded with the reintroduction of a 25 per cent discount on their licence renewal.
Engagement with a selected competitive and robust market consortium included Aware Super, Australian Retirement Trust, and Macquarie Asset Management to deliver the VicRoads Modernisation process to upgrade customer service systems, better Custom Plates services and user-friendly registration and licensing.
The joint venture is a 40-year partnership in which the government retains ownership of VicRoads, while generating $7.9 billion in upfront proceeds, which will be invested in the new Victorian Future Fund to help manage the debut incurred during the pandemic.
The government also delivered on its commitment to protect the jobs of existing VicRoads employees, and created more than 120 new jobs to oversee the partnership, support the IT modernisation process and bolster the government’s road safety role.
Continued ownership of VicRoads by the government will ensure control over regulation and policy, data and privacy provisions, and pricing of essential fees, with information to remain secure and stored in Australia.
Independent integrity bodies, including the Victorian Ombudsman and the Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner, will continue to provide oversight.
The VicRoads Registration and Licensing business maintains registers of more than six million vehicle operators and five million driver licence holders, including cars, motorcycles, heavy vehicles and boats.
The joint venture partners have previously joined with governments to deliver services.
The partners are Australian industry superannuation funds and long-term investors with combined experience delivering the New South Wales, South Australian, Victorian and Western Australian land title services, as well as data centres and telecommunications infrastructure.
Mr Carroll said, “getting your Ls and Ps is one of life’s most significant milestones – and we will deliver them for free”.
“The agreement protects the jobs and conditions of VicRoads workers and will see us create new roles as well.”
Mr Pallas said the modernisation process was a win for all Victorians.
“It means a better experience for drivers and owners of cars, motorbikes, trucks and boats, and continued investment in VicRoads for future generations,” he said.
“It’s a terrific start for the Victorian Future Fund, which will deliver major benefits for Victorians as we continue to recover strongly from the shocks of the pandemic.”
