Annual Report - Australian Automobile Association

ACTIVITIES8AdvocacyThe main advocacy issues involving AAAover the past year have been the issues offuel indexation and the impact of governmentchanges brought about by the introduction ofthe GST in July 2000 and road funding. AAAhas worked closely with our constituents,providing support and coordination on theseand other important issues.SURVEY OF MOTORISTSANOP conducted an annual national surveyof motorists for AAA. The main focus of theANOP survey was to gain motorists’ attitudesto petrol pricing issues and to roads. The keyfindings of the research were as follows.• Petrol prices as an issue for motoristsdoubled between 1999 and 2000.• Motorists' key concerns - petrol prices andtaxes - have increased significantly inimportance.• While motorists do not believe that muchcan be done to address overseas oilprices, they strongly believe thatsomething can be done in Australia…andthat is, doing something about petrol tax.The main priorities are a reduction orfreezing of the fuel excise.FUEL TAXResearch and economic modelingcommissioned by AAA showed that theintroduction of the GST in July 2000, and theassociated changes in fuel excise,disadvantaged motorists by 1.5 cents/litre inthe short-term. AAA and its ConstituentClubs campaigned successfully to have theGovernment accept this argument and toreduce fuel excise by a further 1.5 cents perlitre in March of this year.At that time, the Government also abolishedthe twice-yearly indexation of fuel excise.This decision was a direct result of AAA andthe Clubs arguing that indexation wascontinuing to add to the high cost of petroland the cost of motoring. AAA has estimatedthat the total saving to motorists over the next4 years from these changes is over $3 billion(see Table in Motoring Facts Section).AAA calls for reform of fuel excise, and its linkwith road funding, was also accepted by theGovernment when it announced an Inquiryinto Fuel Taxation. AAA has commissioned anumber of experts to assist in preparing amajor submission to the Inquiry.NATIONAL ROAD FUNDINGThe AAA campaign to gain increasedCommonwealth road funding and black spotfunding has continued. AAA joined with theAustralian Local Government Associationand other key stakeholders to lobby for anincrease in all categories of road fundingover the next 10 years. The FederalGovernment subsequently announced a‘Roads to Recovery’ Program worth$1.6 billion over 4 years, with $1.2 billionof that to be allocated to local roads.In a pre-budget submission, AAA arguedthat there was a need for Government toaddress road funding from a strategic longtermbasis and to prepare a rolling five-yearworks program. It also emphasised the need