❓ A parliamentarian asks a humorous question about unsold Datsun 120Ys from a police auction being converted into operational vehicles. The Minister deflects, highlighting the previous government's underfunding of the impound program and the benefits of removing dangerous drivers from the road.
AnsweredQoN 685Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
MINISTER FOR POLICE — CORRESPONDENCE TO TREASURER
I have a supplementary question. Is there any truth in the rumour that those Datsun 120Ys that were not sold in today’s police auction will be converted into operational vehicles? Mr R.F. JOHNSON
I have a supplementary question. Is there any truth in the rumour that those Datsun 120Ys that were not sold in today’s police auction will be converted into operational vehicles? Mr R.F. JOHNSON
AnswerView source ↗
At the end of the day, that is hardly a supplementary question. It is quite a nice one, though. I think it is a good one to end the week on, I must say, because a bit of humour in this place certainly helps. I am happy to answer that question in a similar vein. Today those vehicles fetched a gross value of less than $10 000, I think. I believe there were 19 vehicles. At the end of the day, the police will have to pay some money, because the member’s government did not fund in the forward estimates the costs that it knew would be involved. The former police minister is shaking his head, but he is smiling at the same time because he knows that what I am saying is the truth. He knows that all the cost element was taken out of what went to cabinet then; it was just left with the basic fundamentals. I am happy to address the shortfall of the member’s government. I am going to do that, and I am happy to do that. At the end of the day, we have seen two benefits today. Once these vehicles — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I was going to buy one and give it to the member as a present, because I thought it would be like the one he used to drive back in Croyden. I am almost finished, Mr Speaker. Today I see two benefits from the towing away and impounding of these vehicles. One is that we have got those dangerous drivers off the road. Those people who are driving without a licence at the moment and who have had their cars impounded are the ones who have been done for drink-driving, reckless driving, dangerous driving and driving at excessive speeds, so that they have overheated their demerit points. They represent about 20 per cent of the number of fatal and critical crashes in WA. We have taken them off the road. The only way we could do that was to take their vehicles. Some of the bombs that were auctioned today were vehicles that I do not believe were safe. They are unregistered vehicles now, so they will have to go over the pits, and they will not be able to go back onto Western Australian roads until they have undergone thorough testing by the police department to ensure that they are roadworthy. It is a great initiative. I supported the legislation when it came forward. I just wish that the previous government had funded it so that I do not have the job of trying to find the extra funds. But I will, and just watch this space next week.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON replied: At the end of the day, that is hardly a supplementary question. It is quite a nice one, though. I think it is a good one to end the week on, I must say, because a bit of humour in this place certainly helps. I am happy to answer that question in a similar vein. Today those vehicles fetched a gross value of less than $10 000, I think. I believe there were 19 vehicles. At the end of the day, the police will have to pay some money, because the member’s government did not fund in the forward estimates the costs that it knew would be involved. The former police minister is shaking his head, but he is smiling at the same time because he knows that what I am saying is the truth. He knows that all the cost element was taken out of what went to cabinet then; it was just left with the basic fundamentals. I am happy to address the shortfall of the member’s government. I am going to do that, and I am happy to do that. At the end of the day, we have seen two benefits today. Once these vehicles — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I was going to buy one and give it to the member as a present, because I thought it would be like the one he used to drive back in Croyden. I am almost finished, Mr Speaker. Today I see two benefits from the towing away and impounding of these vehicles. One is that we have got those dangerous drivers off the road. Those people who are driving without a licence at the moment and who have had their cars impounded are the ones who have been done for drink-driving, reckless driving, dangerous driving and driving at excessive speeds, so that they have overheated their demerit points. They represent about 20 per cent of the number of fatal and critical crashes in WA. We have taken them off the road. The only way we could do that was to take their vehicles. Some of the bombs that were auctioned today were vehicles that I do not believe were safe. They are unregistered vehicles now, so they will have to go over the pits, and they will not be able to go back onto Western Australian roads until they have undergone thorough testing by the police department to ensure that they are roadworthy. It is a great initiative. I supported the legislation when it came forward. I just wish that the previous government had funded it so that I do not have the job of trying to find the extra funds. But I will, and just watch this space next week.
At the end of the day, that is hardly a supplementary question. It is quite a nice one, though. I think it is a good one to end the week on, I must say, because a bit of humour in this place certainly helps. I am happy to answer that question in a similar vein. Today those vehicles fetched a gross value of less than $10 000, I think. I believe there were 19 vehicles. At the end of the day, the police will have to pay some money, because the member’s government did not fund in the forward estimates the costs that it knew would be involved. The former police minister is shaking his head, but he is smiling at the same time because he knows that what I am saying is the truth. He knows that all the cost element was taken out of what went to cabinet then; it was just left with the basic fundamentals. I am happy to address the shortfall of the member’s government. I am going to do that, and I am happy to do that. At the end of the day, we have seen two benefits today. Once these vehicles — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I was going to buy one and give it to the member as a present, because I thought it would be like the one he used to drive back in Croyden. I am almost finished, Mr Speaker. Today I see two benefits from the towing away and impounding of these vehicles. One is that we have got those dangerous drivers off the road. Those people who are driving without a licence at the moment and who have had their cars impounded are the ones who have been done for drink-driving, reckless driving, dangerous driving and driving at excessive speeds, so that they have overheated their demerit points. They represent about 20 per cent of the number of fatal and critical crashes in WA. We have taken them off the road. The only way we could do that was to take their vehicles. Some of the bombs that were auctioned today were vehicles that I do not believe were safe. They are unregistered vehicles now, so they will have to go over the pits, and they will not be able to go back onto Western Australian roads until they have undergone thorough testing by the police department to ensure that they are roadworthy. It is a great initiative. I supported the legislation when it came forward. I just wish that the previous government had funded it so that I do not have the job of trying to find the extra funds. But I will, and just watch this space next week.
Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I was going to buy one and give it to the member as a present, because I thought it would be like the one he used to drive back in Croyden. I am almost finished, Mr Speaker. Today I see two benefits from the towing away and impounding of these vehicles. One is that we have got those dangerous drivers off the road. Those people who are driving without a licence at the moment and who have had their cars impounded are the ones who have been done for drink-driving, reckless driving, dangerous driving and driving at excessive speeds, so that they have overheated their demerit points. They represent about 20 per cent of the number of fatal and critical crashes in WA. We have taken them off the road. The only way we could do that was to take their vehicles. Some of the bombs that were auctioned today were vehicles that I do not believe were safe. They are unregistered vehicles now, so they will have to go over the pits, and they will not be able to go back onto Western Australian roads until they have undergone thorough testing by the police department to ensure that they are roadworthy. It is a great initiative. I supported the legislation when it came forward. I just wish that the previous government had funded it so that I do not have the job of trying to find the extra funds. But I will, and just watch this space next week.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I was going to buy one and give it to the member as a present, because I thought it would be like the one he used to drive back in Croyden. I am almost finished, Mr Speaker. Today I see two benefits from the towing away and impounding of these vehicles. One is that we have got those dangerous drivers off the road. Those people who are driving without a licence at the moment and who have had their cars impounded are the ones who have been done for drink-driving, reckless driving, dangerous driving and driving at excessive speeds, so that they have overheated their demerit points. They represent about 20 per cent of the number of fatal and critical crashes in WA. We have taken them off the road. The only way we could do that was to take their vehicles. Some of the bombs that were auctioned today were vehicles that I do not believe were safe. They are unregistered vehicles now, so they will have to go over the pits, and they will not be able to go back onto Western Australian roads until they have undergone thorough testing by the police department to ensure that they are roadworthy. It is a great initiative. I supported the legislation when it came forward. I just wish that the previous government had funded it so that I do not have the job of trying to find the extra funds. But I will, and just watch this space next week.
Today I see two benefits from the towing away and impounding of these vehicles. One is that we have got those dangerous drivers off the road. Those people who are driving without a licence at the moment and who have had their cars impounded are the ones who have been done for drink-driving, reckless driving, dangerous driving and driving at excessive speeds, so that they have overheated their demerit points. They represent about 20 per cent of the number of fatal and critical crashes in WA. We have taken them off the road. The only way we could do that was to take their vehicles. Some of the bombs that were auctioned today were vehicles that I do not believe were safe. They are unregistered vehicles now, so they will have to go over the pits, and they will not be able to go back onto Western Australian roads until they have undergone thorough testing by the police department to ensure that they are roadworthy. It is a great initiative. I supported the legislation when it came forward. I just wish that the previous government had funded it so that I do not have the job of trying to find the extra funds. But I will, and just watch this space next week.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON replied: At the end of the day, that is hardly a supplementary question. It is quite a nice one, though. I think it is a good one to end the week on, I must say, because a bit of humour in this place certainly helps. I am happy to answer that question in a similar vein. Today those vehicles fetched a gross value of less than $10 000, I think. I believe there were 19 vehicles. At the end of the day, the police will have to pay some money, because the member’s government did not fund in the forward estimates the costs that it knew would be involved. The former police minister is shaking his head, but he is smiling at the same time because he knows that what I am saying is the truth. He knows that all the cost element was taken out of what went to cabinet then; it was just left with the basic fundamentals. I am happy to address the shortfall of the member’s government. I am going to do that, and I am happy to do that. At the end of the day, we have seen two benefits today. Once these vehicles — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I was going to buy one and give it to the member as a present, because I thought it would be like the one he used to drive back in Croyden. I am almost finished, Mr Speaker. Today I see two benefits from the towing away and impounding of these vehicles. One is that we have got those dangerous drivers off the road. Those people who are driving without a licence at the moment and who have had their cars impounded are the ones who have been done for drink-driving, reckless driving, dangerous driving and driving at excessive speeds, so that they have overheated their demerit points. They represent about 20 per cent of the number of fatal and critical crashes in WA. We have taken them off the road. The only way we could do that was to take their vehicles. Some of the bombs that were auctioned today were vehicles that I do not believe were safe. They are unregistered vehicles now, so they will have to go over the pits, and they will not be able to go back onto Western Australian roads until they have undergone thorough testing by the police department to ensure that they are roadworthy. It is a great initiative. I supported the legislation when it came forward. I just wish that the previous government had funded it so that I do not have the job of trying to find the extra funds. But I will, and just watch this space next week.
At the end of the day, that is hardly a supplementary question. It is quite a nice one, though. I think it is a good one to end the week on, I must say, because a bit of humour in this place certainly helps. I am happy to answer that question in a similar vein. Today those vehicles fetched a gross value of less than $10 000, I think. I believe there were 19 vehicles. At the end of the day, the police will have to pay some money, because the member’s government did not fund in the forward estimates the costs that it knew would be involved. The former police minister is shaking his head, but he is smiling at the same time because he knows that what I am saying is the truth. He knows that all the cost element was taken out of what went to cabinet then; it was just left with the basic fundamentals. I am happy to address the shortfall of the member’s government. I am going to do that, and I am happy to do that. At the end of the day, we have seen two benefits today. Once these vehicles — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I was going to buy one and give it to the member as a present, because I thought it would be like the one he used to drive back in Croyden. I am almost finished, Mr Speaker. Today I see two benefits from the towing away and impounding of these vehicles. One is that we have got those dangerous drivers off the road. Those people who are driving without a licence at the moment and who have had their cars impounded are the ones who have been done for drink-driving, reckless driving, dangerous driving and driving at excessive speeds, so that they have overheated their demerit points. They represent about 20 per cent of the number of fatal and critical crashes in WA. We have taken them off the road. The only way we could do that was to take their vehicles. Some of the bombs that were auctioned today were vehicles that I do not believe were safe. They are unregistered vehicles now, so they will have to go over the pits, and they will not be able to go back onto Western Australian roads until they have undergone thorough testing by the police department to ensure that they are roadworthy. It is a great initiative. I supported the legislation when it came forward. I just wish that the previous government had funded it so that I do not have the job of trying to find the extra funds. But I will, and just watch this space next week.
Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I was going to buy one and give it to the member as a present, because I thought it would be like the one he used to drive back in Croyden. I am almost finished, Mr Speaker. Today I see two benefits from the towing away and impounding of these vehicles. One is that we have got those dangerous drivers off the road. Those people who are driving without a licence at the moment and who have had their cars impounded are the ones who have been done for drink-driving, reckless driving, dangerous driving and driving at excessive speeds, so that they have overheated their demerit points. They represent about 20 per cent of the number of fatal and critical crashes in WA. We have taken them off the road. The only way we could do that was to take their vehicles. Some of the bombs that were auctioned today were vehicles that I do not believe were safe. They are unregistered vehicles now, so they will have to go over the pits, and they will not be able to go back onto Western Australian roads until they have undergone thorough testing by the police department to ensure that they are roadworthy. It is a great initiative. I supported the legislation when it came forward. I just wish that the previous government had funded it so that I do not have the job of trying to find the extra funds. But I will, and just watch this space next week.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I was going to buy one and give it to the member as a present, because I thought it would be like the one he used to drive back in Croyden. I am almost finished, Mr Speaker. Today I see two benefits from the towing away and impounding of these vehicles. One is that we have got those dangerous drivers off the road. Those people who are driving without a licence at the moment and who have had their cars impounded are the ones who have been done for drink-driving, reckless driving, dangerous driving and driving at excessive speeds, so that they have overheated their demerit points. They represent about 20 per cent of the number of fatal and critical crashes in WA. We have taken them off the road. The only way we could do that was to take their vehicles. Some of the bombs that were auctioned today were vehicles that I do not believe were safe. They are unregistered vehicles now, so they will have to go over the pits, and they will not be able to go back onto Western Australian roads until they have undergone thorough testing by the police department to ensure that they are roadworthy. It is a great initiative. I supported the legislation when it came forward. I just wish that the previous government had funded it so that I do not have the job of trying to find the extra funds. But I will, and just watch this space next week.
Today I see two benefits from the towing away and impounding of these vehicles. One is that we have got those dangerous drivers off the road. Those people who are driving without a licence at the moment and who have had their cars impounded are the ones who have been done for drink-driving, reckless driving, dangerous driving and driving at excessive speeds, so that they have overheated their demerit points. They represent about 20 per cent of the number of fatal and critical crashes in WA. We have taken them off the road. The only way we could do that was to take their vehicles. Some of the bombs that were auctioned today were vehicles that I do not believe were safe. They are unregistered vehicles now, so they will have to go over the pits, and they will not be able to go back onto Western Australian roads until they have undergone thorough testing by the police department to ensure that they are roadworthy. It is a great initiative. I supported the legislation when it came forward. I just wish that the previous government had funded it so that I do not have the job of trying to find the extra funds. But I will, and just watch this space next week.
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