The elected representative for the massive western NSW state electorate of Barwon, Roy Butler MP, introduced a bill to the NSW Parliament recently proposing to cut vehicle registration costs to help country people keep their vehicles on the road during the cost-of-living crisis.

Mr Butler’s Motor Vehicles Taxation Amendment (Rural Vehicles) Bill 2026 recognises that country people rely on heavier, more robust vehicles not by choice but by necessity – and are unfairly penalised for it under the current registration system.

“City drivers can get by with small, fuel‑efficient cars because they rarely leave sealed roads, so a larger vehicle is a lifestyle choice,” Mr Butler said.

“In the bush, small cars aren't an option. We need vehicles that can handle rough terrain, unsealed roads, flood‑damaged routes, and the very real danger of hitting animals like kangaroos, pigs, emus or livestock.”

These vehicles – typically four‑wheel drives or utes fitted with safety equipment like bull bars – attract higher registration fees and pay more fuel excise due to the greater distances travelled. So, country people are essentially taxed twice, Mr Butler believes.

“On top of this, incomes in regional NSW are generally lower than in Sydney or along the coast, while fuel usually costs more,” Mr Butler added.

“Country residents are expected to pay more simply because of where they live and the vehicles they need to safely get around.”

Mr Butler’s proposal allows rural residents to pay registration for one of their vehicles as though it meets the 1,550kg taxable weight threshold.

“This is a modest, sensible reform that acknowledges the reality of living in the bush,” Mr Butler said.

“It’s a small concession to the primary producers, tradies, families and workers who quite literally keep the cities running.”