State trials private sector vehicle inspections

Vehicle inspections on low-risk light and heavy vehicles will be carried out by the private sector, rather than the State Government's vehicle examination centres, in a trial announced by Assistant Minister for Planning and Infrastructure Ljiljanna Ravlich.

The full text of a ministerial announcement is pasted below

The State Government today announced a trial that will see some vehicle inspections carried out by selected private sector partners.

Minister Assisting the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure Ljiljanna Ravlich said the trial, which would commence on July 2 and run for six months, was the latest step in a major reform program to improve and modernise licensing services.

Ms Ravlich said the trial would focus on providing inspections for some low-risk light and heavy vehicles in the Perth metropolitan area.

"This will provide customers with a choice for vehicle examination services," she said.

"It will also ease pressure on the department's vehicle examination staff and enable them to focus on inspections of vehicles that pose a high risk in terms of road safety or vehicle identity.

"Partners recognised under this trial program must meet stringent criteria before being authorised and will be subject to random auditing by Licensing Services to ensure vehicle safety and identity standards are maintained."

Under the trial, inspections of light vehicles will be carried out by RAC Auto Services by appointment at:

• Balcatta, Bentley and Joondalup from July 2;
• Myaree and Northbridge from August 6;
• Osborne Park from September; and
• Morley from November this year.

Expressions of Interest are currently being sought for additional private sector partners to carry out light vehicle examinations in Midland and Joondalup, and to provide heavy vehicle inspections at up to two sites in the metropolitan area.

During the trial, vehicles up to 2,500kg including most commercial and four-wheel drive vehicles that:

• do not have a defect notice (yellow sticker);
• are not being reassessed due to LPG conversion;
• have not been entered on the written-off vehicle register (WOVR); or
• are not more than five metres in length (such as stretch vehicles)

can be examined by RAC Auto Services and other light vehicle private sector partners as they are introduced to the trial.

Heavy vehicles that can be examined by private sector partners are those that:

• exceed 4,500 gross vehicles mass; and
• have not been entered on the WOVR.

This latest initiative is in addition to current trials of the booking system at Warwick and Kelmscott vehicle examination centres and the metropolitan motor dealer Approved Inspection Station scheme.

Mr Tony Pickworth, RAC general manager of Operations, said the RAC was pleased to be part of the Department of Planning and Infrastructure's initiative, where private sector operators carry out vehicle inspections on behalf of the State Government.

"By offering this service through a number of RAC Auto Service Centres, the RAC will add to the range of other services we currently provide to our members and to the Western Australian community," Mr Pickworth said.

John Taylor of the Motor Trade Association of Western Australia said the MTA welcomed the initiative and hoped that it would make significant progress towards reducing queues and delays at licensing centres.

"Licensing Services is a large and complex business that services approximately
1.4 million licensed drivers and 1.94 million licensed vehicles involving in excess of seven million transactions per year," Ms Ravlich said.

"The rapid and sustained growth in WA's economy has led to record demand on driving assessments, licensing and vehicle examination services, leading to unacceptable waiting times for customers.

"This initiative is one example in a broader reform program aimed at improving Licensing Services by working smarter to meet that demand and accommodate future growth."