Re: Alice Springs to Darwin line, but wait, there is more.!

["< Tell >" <telljb@OZozemail.com.au>]

"Ray McDermott" <raymcd@ozemail.com.au> wrote:
>
>This tirade was obviously lifted straight from a trucking magazine as found
>in one of those dreadful road-houses that abound in NT.

No, from the AAA web site actually.

>It is illogical that all taxes raised through the motor transport industry 
>must be spent on roads.  (Corollary: All liquor taxes spent on vineyards??)
>  Consider:
>  (1)  Sales and excise taxes are a legitimate method of raising taxes.  The
>GST is an extension of this principle.  The motor industry must make its
>contribution.
>  (2)  Road user charges are a separate issue over and above basic tax.
>  (3)  Private motorists carry too much tax burden vis-a-vis road transport
>industry.
>  (4)  Infrastructure and maintenance costs for truck-carrying roads are
>much higher than required for cars alone.  The trucking industry should bear
>the total differential.
>(5)  There is a much greater cost to the community for roading than the
>provision of roads.  The cost of road deaths and injuries, administration,
>policing etc must be included.


All very true, but does not alter the fact that
railways are considered a dead loss to the pollies, you
tell them mate, not me.

----Terry Burton
Alice Springs NT
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