The Napthine Government is likely to penalise pensioners, young and regional drivers with premium rises under proposed changes to the Transport Accident Commission, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Regional and Rural Development, Jaala Pulford said today.

Ms Pulford said the proposed changes are contained in the Essential Services Commission Efficiency Review of the Transport Accident Commission and Victorian Workcover Authority.

Ms Pulford said Victorian motorists had already been hit hard by the Napthine Government with vehicle registration and licensing increases, and that now Mr Napthine was again looking to hit motorists in the hip pocket.

The ESC review recommended the Government ‘clarify the purpose’ of TAC concessions for pension card holders, which currently stand at 50 per cent.

“Premier Napthine has agreed to ‘clarify the purpose’ of TAC concessions, which is code for scrapping them altogether,” Ms Pulford said.

“The Premier needs to stop hiding and tell Victorian pensioners if their TAC concessions will be scrapped or costs increased.”

The review also recommended changes to geographic parameters to determine TAC premiums, at the same time warning such changes could result in ‘price shocks’ for regional motorists.

“This will lead to higher premiums for young and regional motorists,” Ms Pulford said.

“The Napthine Government is essentially changing the TAC’s no-fault system to a partial fault system, costing regional motorists, pensioners and young drivers even more.

“I am very concerned by the lack of community consultation and secretive nature of the response to the report.

“The Napthine Government is trying to hide this report and these proposed price rises from the very large percentage of motorists affected .

“The Napthine Government needs to re-examine its decision to punish pensioners, regional and young drivers with these changes.”

Total fee rises under the Coalition Government in the 2013/14 Budget amount to $3.95 billion more than in the 2010/11 Budget, a growth of nearly 17 per cent and at a cost to each adult Victorian of $654.