ACT Justice Minister Shane Rattenbury will lead a new push for nationally consistent standards for the sale and use of motorcycle helmets.
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Mr Rattenbury will tell Friday's meeting of state and territory transport and infrastructure ministers in Adelaide that current standards for motorcycle helmets are inconsistent across jurisdictions and a rider travelling over state borders could inadvertently break the law.
Confusion and frustration from motorcycle riders and advocacy groups had prompted the action, amid an ongoing federal government review of sale standards, launched in 2012. The issue was discussed at a national meeting of motorcycle riders associations in Canberra.
The Commonwealth is responsible for the standards relating to the sale of helmets but states and territories control standards related to their use and wear.
Mr Rattenbury said some jurisdictions had updated local standards to meet the latest European rules but riders cannot purchase helmets meeting the standards because of outdated federal sale rules. Current rules are consistent between the ACT and NSW.
"I've put an item on the agenda to try and resolve this issue that we have across Australia where the states and territories are in different situations with motorbike helmets," he said.
"It means a ride can go from one jurisdiction where their helmet is legal, riding to another jurisdiction where their helmet is not legal."
Mr Rattenbury has written to federal government ministers calling for delays to be resolved as quickly as possible and asking for advice on the expected timeframe of the national review.
"We need to get together at a political level to say 'this problem needs to be fixed' and get our officials focused on it. You are allowed to wear a European standard helmet in certain states but you're not actually allowed to sell them in Australia."
Motorcycle Riders Association of the ACT spokeswoman Jen Woods said she supported moves towards a national standard for helmets.
"The Motorcycle Riders Association of the ACT, as a delegate to the Australian Motorcycle Council, calls for harmonisation of laws across Australia to clarify the situation around helmets and also supports the legalisation of motorcycle helmets to UN standard ECE 22-05 and other international standards," Ms Woods said.
Mr Rattenbury said he expected the government's light rail project to be discussed at the meeting. He said Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's high profile support for public transport had changed the tone of state and federal discussions about infrastructure funding.
As part of the trip to South Australia, Mr Rattenbury will visit the two-day International Driverless Cars Conference, set to consider technology, research, safety trials and legislation changes needed to make for driverless cars to be used on the roads.
Mr Rattenbury said he would take up the offer of a ride in a driverless car on an open road as part of the event.
