The Nationals’ candidate for Murray, Austin Evans, has launched a petition to allow rural and regional motorists a special exemption on the soon-to-be-banned five-post bullbars on motor vehicles.
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His call comes ahead of a September 2018 deadline for owners of non-compliant bullbars to replace the devices or risk hefty police fines.
The Shooters, Farmers and Fishers, however, accused the Nationals of dishonesty, saying bullbars were originally banned by former National Party minister Duncan Gay in 2014.
Mr Evans’ petition is calls for vehicles registered in rural and regional NSW to legally have five-post bullbars fitted.
He said while he understood heavy duty bullbars could pose a risk on inner-city streets, they were a legitimate safety device on country roads.
“As long as we have kangaroos and other wildlife on our roadways, there will be a need for heavy duty bullbars,” Mr Evans said.
Shooters MLA Robert Borsak still thinks the Nationals are soft on bulbars.
“The ban on five-post bull bars was originally proposed by National Party Roads Minister Duncan Gay,” Mr Borsak said.
“The only reason there was an extension on enforcing the ban on five post bull barsin the first place is because of pressure from my Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party colleague Robert Brown.
“We've always fought against banning bull bars. Our party's founder John Tingle even stopped a bull bar ban on the Parliament's StaySafe Committee in the 1990s.
Mr Evans said his government deserves praise for extending an exemption on the ban until September 18.
“Bullbars aren’t a fashion accessory in the country, they’re a necessity,” Mr Evans said.
“As such, country people should not be punished for wanting to protect themselves and their families.”
His call has gained the support of Kevin Foster from Griffith’s Almet Engineering, who has been successfully manufacturing five-post bullbars for more then 30 years.
“I agree with what Austin is trying to do,” Mr Foster said. “The bullbars obviously aren’t needed in George Street in Sydney but the amount of roadkill you see on country roads is proof enough of how dangerous animal collisions can be.”
The Murray by-election will be held on October 14. Pre-poll voting commences Tuesday October 3.