❓ Mr Britza asks about the government's commitment to reducing road trauma in school zones. The Minister responds, highlighting the $36 million investment in flashing 40km/h signs and defending the program against accusations of pork-barrelling, leading to heated exchanges.
AnsweredQoN 418Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ROAD
SAFETY — SCHOOL ZONES
418. Mr I.M. BRITZA to the
Minister for Road Safety:
Can the minister update the house on
the Liberal–National government's commitment to reducing road
trauma in school zones?
SAFETY — SCHOOL ZONES
418. Mr I.M. BRITZA to the
Minister for Road Safety:
Can the minister update the house on
the Liberal–National government's commitment to reducing road
trauma in school zones?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Morley for
this question and for his continued interest in road safety. I am really
pleased and proud of this program. During the estimates committee hearings,
members opposite described this as my pet project. I can hand-on-heart say that
I am very pleased with this road safety initiative, which involves the
installation of flashing 40-kilometre-an-hour school zone signs outside every
one of our 1 072 schools across the state. It is not an insubstantial
commitment, $36 million over four years, and it was noted that the rollout of
this program has been very well received by local communities, school
communities and members of Parliament alike. I was pretty disturbed during that
estimates process to have this initiative called some kind of political
pork-barrelling exercise. The road safety merits of the program were being
questioned by the member for Midland, who I notice is interjecting.
Mrs
M.H. Roberts interjected.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : Even if there were no fatalities or serious injuries in school
zones, I would support this program because we must do everything we can to
protect our most vulnerable road users—those of course being children—and
ensure that motorists slow down in the vicinity of schoolchildren. The
unfortunate reality is that there have been two deaths and 74 serious injuries.
Several members interjected.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : I know that people opposite do not care about the safety of
our children and pedestrians in school zones.
The
SPEAKER : Minister, can you come back to the point, please.
Withdrawal of Remark
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I call on the
minister to withdraw that comment. To suggest that people on this side of the
house do not care about the safety of schoolchildren is a shocking, disgraceful
and deceitful thing to say and she should apologise.
The SPEAKER : Member, I have just
read out about the use of a point of order to debate. Carry on, please,
minister.
Mrs
M.H. ROBERTS : I am not using it to debate; I am asking for the minister to
apologise for deceiving the house.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : In this house when we talk about issues —
Mrs
M.H. Roberts interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Midland!
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : In this house when we talk about issues of interest and
concern, the way to appropriately demonstrate —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Butler, I call you to order for the first time.
Mrs
M.H. Roberts interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Midland, I call you to order for the first time.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : Usually when people are interested in and place a high degree
of relevance on an issue, they listen to it in silence and do not interject;
they listen to what people have to say. In this house respect is shown for and
importance is placed on matters when they are listened to in silence.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members! We are getting a wall of noise again.
Dr
A.D. Buti interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Armadale, I call you to order for the first time.
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
There have been two fatalities and 74 serious injuries in our school zones
while they have been in operation over the past 10 years. That is why we on
this side of the house support this program and why members welcome it.
Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected.
Mrs L.M. HARVEY : I
will visit the member for Midland's electorate and have a photograph
taken with her —
Mr J.R. Quigley interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Butler, I call you to order for the second time.
Mrs L.M. HARVEY : I
am happy to come out to any member's electorate —
Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Midland, I call you to order for the second time.
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
On the one hand we get told this is a political pork-barrelling exercise and on
the other hand we get criticised for not inviting members to be a part of it.
Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected.
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
Here is the member's invitation: the next time a 40-kilometre-per-hour
flashing sign is installed at a school zone in Midland, I will come out and
have a photograph with the member for Midland. She either supports it or she
does not. She either wants a photograph or she does not. If she thinks it is a
good program, she should support the program —
Mrs M.H. Roberts :
Where and when?
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
Engage with —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : I
want the minister to speak to the Chair and draw this to a conclusion.
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
The invitation is there. It is a good program, it is well supported by the
community and we are proud of it. Yes, it is my pet project and I am really
proud of it, as is the Minister for Transport and all members of Parliament. I
welcome members opposite to be part of it and improve road safety in Western
Australia.
this question and for his continued interest in road safety. I am really
pleased and proud of this program. During the estimates committee hearings,
members opposite described this as my pet project. I can hand-on-heart say that
I am very pleased with this road safety initiative, which involves the
installation of flashing 40-kilometre-an-hour school zone signs outside every
one of our 1 072 schools across the state. It is not an insubstantial
commitment, $36 million over four years, and it was noted that the rollout of
this program has been very well received by local communities, school
communities and members of Parliament alike. I was pretty disturbed during that
estimates process to have this initiative called some kind of political
pork-barrelling exercise. The road safety merits of the program were being
questioned by the member for Midland, who I notice is interjecting.
Mrs
M.H. Roberts interjected.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : Even if there were no fatalities or serious injuries in school
zones, I would support this program because we must do everything we can to
protect our most vulnerable road users—those of course being children—and
ensure that motorists slow down in the vicinity of schoolchildren. The
unfortunate reality is that there have been two deaths and 74 serious injuries.
Several members interjected.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : I know that people opposite do not care about the safety of
our children and pedestrians in school zones.
The
SPEAKER : Minister, can you come back to the point, please.
Withdrawal of Remark
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I call on the
minister to withdraw that comment. To suggest that people on this side of the
house do not care about the safety of schoolchildren is a shocking, disgraceful
and deceitful thing to say and she should apologise.
The SPEAKER : Member, I have just
read out about the use of a point of order to debate. Carry on, please,
minister.
Mrs
M.H. ROBERTS : I am not using it to debate; I am asking for the minister to
apologise for deceiving the house.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : In this house when we talk about issues —
Mrs
M.H. Roberts interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Midland!
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : In this house when we talk about issues of interest and
concern, the way to appropriately demonstrate —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Butler, I call you to order for the first time.
Mrs
M.H. Roberts interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Midland, I call you to order for the first time.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : Usually when people are interested in and place a high degree
of relevance on an issue, they listen to it in silence and do not interject;
they listen to what people have to say. In this house respect is shown for and
importance is placed on matters when they are listened to in silence.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members! We are getting a wall of noise again.
Dr
A.D. Buti interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Armadale, I call you to order for the first time.
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
There have been two fatalities and 74 serious injuries in our school zones
while they have been in operation over the past 10 years. That is why we on
this side of the house support this program and why members welcome it.
Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected.
Mrs L.M. HARVEY : I
will visit the member for Midland's electorate and have a photograph
taken with her —
Mr J.R. Quigley interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Butler, I call you to order for the second time.
Mrs L.M. HARVEY : I
am happy to come out to any member's electorate —
Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Midland, I call you to order for the second time.
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
On the one hand we get told this is a political pork-barrelling exercise and on
the other hand we get criticised for not inviting members to be a part of it.
Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected.
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
Here is the member's invitation: the next time a 40-kilometre-per-hour
flashing sign is installed at a school zone in Midland, I will come out and
have a photograph with the member for Midland. She either supports it or she
does not. She either wants a photograph or she does not. If she thinks it is a
good program, she should support the program —
Mrs M.H. Roberts :
Where and when?
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
Engage with —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : I
want the minister to speak to the Chair and draw this to a conclusion.
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
The invitation is there. It is a good program, it is well supported by the
community and we are proud of it. Yes, it is my pet project and I am really
proud of it, as is the Minister for Transport and all members of Parliament. I
welcome members opposite to be part of it and improve road safety in Western
Australia.
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