Legislation ending the exemption for vehicle licensing fees for seniors was approved in the House of Assembly early this morning, despite arguments from the Opposition.Government described the exemption as a mistake, but the Progressive Labour Party said ending the exemption was an attack on seniors.Under the Motor Car Amendment Act 2013, although seniors will lose their exemption from paying vehicle licensing fees, they will receive a 50 percent discount. The cost of vehicle licences will otherwise increase by three percent across the board.The amendments are estimated to raise around $1.75 million.Transport Minister Shawn Crockwell said the free vehicle licence initiative was a mistake, and that the PLP Government had intended to make drivers’ licences for seniors free, not vehicle licences.“The fact of the matter is the result of that mistaken policy it has cost the Government in the region of $3.5 million of revenue ever year since 2009,” Mr Crockwell said. “That is just not sustainable.”He also said there had been abuse of the system, further worsening the issue.Mr Crockwell said that the Government had considered reinstituting licence fees for only for larger vehicles, but there were concerns that the results could be viewed as discriminatory. As a result, they decided to reinstitute fees for all groups of vehicles, but at a discounted rate.“We think it’s fair. It’s still a significant discount,” Mr Crockwell said.Shadow Transport Minister Lawrence Scott described the argument as a “bad case to make a bad law”.He said that the changed legislature will do nothing to stop the abuse of the system, but continue to offer fraudsters a discount.“You still haven’t plugged that hole. You are nickel and diming our senior citizens,” he said. “We can understand a three percent increase, but we cannot understand a three percent increase, plus making them pay for their cars.“Prior to December 17 we had their word they would protect seniors’ free transportation. If this was the change that we knew was coming perhaps December 17 would have had a different outcome.”Minister for Health and Seniors Pat Gordon Pamplin however said the reference to “free transport was for free public transport, not that Government would buy seniors cars or gas”.She said that since the legislation was announced, she has received several calls from seniors. While some expressed concern about the increased in cost, others said they could afford the change and understood the financial position the Island is in.The PLP’s Walter Roban said Government was showing a lack of caring and compassion for the Island’s seniors, and called for the policy to be reconsidered.“What’s next? What other defenceless group is going to have the axe from the Government?” Mr Roban said. “Here we have the Government axing a benefit. I’m concerned.”Shadow Attorney General Kim Wilson and Shadow Tourism Minister Wayne Furbert called on Government to find other ways to raise the revenue or cut spending without hurting seniors.But Attorney General Mark Pettingill said that if seniors need assistance they can apply for an exception under the legislation, and criticised the opposition for either not knowing or ignoring that aspect of the legislation.“The exception is there, it is in the act. If seniors cannot afford it, all they have to do is apply,” he said.