Cronulla MP, Malcolm Kerr has called on the Minister for Roads to ensure that married couples will not be affected by the new policy of a single registered operator for each vehicle.

Mr Kerr’s call came after a complaint by a local resident that he was refused permission by the Roads and Traffic Authority to register his new vehicle in joint names with his wife as they had done in the past.

The RTA states that from 19 May 2008 only a single registered operator will be required for each vehicle, either a person or a corporation when registration is established or transferred.  Names of second operators, trading names and names of unincorporated organizations will no longer be accepted.  Registrations established before that date with more than one name recorded will continue, until the registration is transferred or re-established.

The RTA further claim that registering a vehicle in one name ensures effective enforcement of traffic, road transport and other laws, including toll collection.  It identifies the person or corporation responsible for the operation of each vehicle.

Mr Kerr said marriage is an institution in which a relationship is sanctioned with governmental, social or religious recognition.  Marriage is a legal institution where partners work together, sharing their resources to build their lives and that process includes buying and registering a car as community property.

‘It is therefore beyond belief that only one half of such an institution is allowed to register a motor vehicle that is jointly owned” Mr Kerr said.

“This policy opens a huge can of worms, including the name the vehicle can be insured in, dealings with the RTA by the excluded marriage partner under the Privacy Act and complications should one party be deceased”

“To claim that this policy will make it easier to identify the person responsible for the operation of the vehicle is rubbish as the owner of a vehicle will still have the option to nominate any other person who might incur a penalty while driving the vehicle.

“I call on the Minister for Roads to immediately instruct the RTA that this single registered operator policy not apply to married couples’ Mr Kerr concluded.