The National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council (NMVTRC) has been saved from closure, winning a last-minute reprieve from the Victorian Government.

The state’s Police Minister Lisa Neville told insuranceNEWS.com.au the Government will again fund the national anti-car theft body, which was established in 1999.

“We are in the process of developing a new funding arrangement,” she said.

The NMVTRC has been on tenterhooks for a year following the Andrews Government’s decision to withdraw $300,000 annual funding, following the lead of Queensland.

It meant the council also lost a matched amount from insurers in Victoria, in line with its funding arrangement.

Victoria’s withdrawal effectively made the organisation financially unviable.

The latest announcement could not come at a better time, with Victorian car theft rates continuing to soar. Figures released by the NMVTRC last week show short-term theft of passenger and light commercial vehicles grew 38% last financial year – more than three times the national average.

Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) spokesman Campbell Fuller says the reports of renewed commitment from the Victorian Government are very welcome.

“ICA notes that the level of vehicle theft in Victoria has soared since the state withdrew its membership of the NMVTRC [last year], and believes renewed engagement with the program will help to combat that trend,” he told insuranceNEWS.com.au.

Mr Fuller also called on Queensland to rejoin the program. The state recorded an 11% spike in short-term passenger and light commercial vehicle theft last financial year.

NMVTRC Executive Director Ray Carroll told insuranceNEWS.com.au he is “extremely pleased” the Victorian Government is back on board, amid an “unprecedented rise” in car theft in the state.

“Insurers in Victoria will be pleased they can be active in Victoria again and work with stakeholders to help reduce the car theft problem,” he said. “Now we can work together again to help the Victoria police to bring it under control.”