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Pumpkin`s dad arrested in NZ

The father of "Pumpkin" has been arrested in NZ and will be charged with his wife`s murder.
Pay-as-you-drive plan to ease congestion Images: Pumpkin`s ordeal so far

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Anothr step towards socialism.
Posted by: Steve of Perth 10:19am today

Here we go again... slug the motorist! Looks like KRudd is taking a leaf out of Carr/Iemma's book, tax, tax and more tax!Hey I know how to fix it...... lets all vote labor again!!
Posted by: Les of Sydney 10:19am today

"In 2007-08, excise on petrol will raise $14.42 billion but just $3.41 billion will be spent on roads. "Maybethe funds already available should be properly used in the first place ? The proposal is just another rude grab for money. It is sad to se how efficiently we all are being made into a bunch of rats, running madly in a cage to just deliver more tax money - just to be wasted on utopist ideas.More and more taxes - is this the only idea the governments are capable of ?
Posted by: Les of Sydney 10:18am today

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Plan would see drivers pay for using congested roads
Costs fall for non-peak drivers of "green" cars
Check out more motoring news with carsguide

MOTORISTS will be automatically hit with a special levy when they drive on congested roads under proposed tax changes now before the Federal Government.

They would be instantly billed by automatic vehicle identification systems such as those used to monitor cars on toll roads.

But motorists who drove in non-peak periods and had environmentally friendly cars would pay less for the right to have a vehicle.

And scrapping the present one-charge-for-all system would give low-income earners a chance to cut motoring costs by changing their driving habits.

The proposal is contained in a Budget submission to the Government by the Australian Automobile Association, representing the nation`s eight driver service organisations, including the NRMA.

It matches a push in Treasury for the introduction of more user-pays changes, rather than a flat rate for all, and has been endorsed by a government advisory group, the National Transport Commission.

The proposed system has been likened to mobile phone charges. The mobile owner pays one fee to enter the system but all other costs depend on when, to where, how often and for how long calls are made.

The new tax on drivers would include an "access charge" and a "user charge". This tax structure would replace existing charges motorists pay - federal fuel excise, GST on petrol, state registration charges, stamp duty on registration and road tolls.

In 2007-08, excise on petrol will raise $14.42 billion but just $3.41 billion will be spent on roads.

The amount of the user charge would depend on the size of the vehicle and the wear it causes roads, an environmental charge related to engine capacity, a levy to cover the costs of crashes and the congestion charge.

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Today`s Top Picks

Pumpkin`s dad arrested in NZ

The father of "Pumpkin" has been arrested in NZ and will be charged with his wife`s murder.
Gallery Images: Pumpkin`s ordeal so far