LNP towing policy should be hauled away as rogue towies would stay

The LNP has given the green light to rogue tow truck operators with the introduction of their lame Private Member’s Bill in Parliament today.

The Bill fails to licence rogue tow operators, doesn’t set a capped fee amount and demonstrates a blatant disrespect towards the views of former District Court Judge Michael Forde and all of those with whom he consulted.

Acting Minister for Main Roads and Road Safety Steven Miles said the nine page Bill introduced by the LNP was in stark contrast to the independent 86 page Forde report including 22 recommendations which were accepted by Cabinet yesterday, lock, stock and barrel.

“The Palaszczuk Government acted swiftly when the extent of the private carpark towing rort was revealed in early May.  We set up a hotline and appointed Mr Forde to lead an independent investigation all before the LNP realised there was even an issue,” Mr Miles said.

“The LNP’s Bill tabled today is dodgier than a tow truck in an Ascot car park. It fails to force dodgy tow truck operators to become accredited and licenced, leaving consumers exposed.

“If the LNP had bothered to read Mr Forde’s report, they would know that without amending section 5 of the Act, the Regulation still provides an exemption from gaining a licence for all services except crash towing and controlled area towing.

“The LNP failed to articulate any additional regulatory changes that would be required to actually stamp out rogue operators.

“This is the same party that managed to ban buses and limos in 2016. They simply cannot be trusted to legislate properly.”  

Minister Miles said Tim Nicholls told the media in late June the LNP would introduce a Private Member’s Bill capping fees at $333.15.

“The fees were a late scratching out of today’s Bill, they’re either embarrassed that Mr Forde recommended a $250 cap or they’re simply not being up front and honest with Queensland motorists about what their capped fees would be,” he said.

“Mr Forde consulted extensively with towing operators, private property occupiers, motorists and government and non-government bodies and organisations to put together this report.

“For the Opposition to suggest Mr Forde handed in the LNP’s homework is not only disrespectful to an eminent law expert but ridiculous as until today all they released publicly was a two page pamphlet.

“I’m toying between being pleased that they’ve handed in our homework which we announced back in June, and cranky that they’ve done such a poor job duplicating it.” (Opposition Transport Spokesperson Andrew Powell, ABC Brisbane 7 August, 2017)

“Frankly, I’d be embarrassed to be the Opposition Transport spokesperson today.”

Minister Miles said towing from private carparks was a complex and challenging issue that had been around for many governments but it was the Palaszczuk Government who was tackling it head on after the extensive consultation.

“The LNP did nothing about this while in government, instead choosing to turn a blind eye and throw it in the too hard basket despite one of the top hotspots being in Tim Nicholls’ electorate,” Mr Miles said.

“Tim Nicholls even went so far as to say in a radio interview (4BC, 19/06/17) that the issue never existed when he was Treasurer. 

BEN DAVIS: Tim, speaking of government. Cynics are going to say you’re jumping in early before we see the Forde report, trying to steal the government’s thunder?

TIM NICHOLLS: Well I think the question of this is it’s been going on for a long time. As I say, it’s been happening in my electorate.

BEN DAVIS: It was happening when you were in government too.

TIM NICHOLLS: I don’t think it was happening when we were in government. I don’t have any complaints from my term in government. I know that’s what Mark Bailey…

BEN DAVIS: No, it’s been happening for years Tim. It’s been happening for years.

“Mr Nicholls was too busy selling off assets with Campbell Newman to care about local issues impacting his constituents," Mr Miles said.

“Queenslanders want good, sound governance. Not policy designed on the back of beer coasters without consulting with the community.”

ENDS

Media contact: Zoe Russell - 0428 079 640