❓ Question regarding the progress of the Liberal-National government's commitment to improve road safety through electronic flashing school zone signs. The Minister provides an update on the rollout and future plans.
AnsweredQoN 869Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
SCHOOLS — ELECTRONIC SPEED ZONE SIGNS
869. MR N.W. MORTON to the
Minister for Transport:
Before I ask my question, I acknowledge two school groups
from my electorate—year 7s from Dawson Park Primary School in the
public gallery and the year 7 leadership group from Edney Primary School in the
Speaker's gallery.
I note the minister's media release this morning
announcing the latest schools to receive electronic flashing school zone signs.
Can the minister please update the house on the progress of the Liberal–National
government's election commitment to improve road safety throughout
Western Australia?
869. MR N.W. MORTON to the
Minister for Transport:
Before I ask my question, I acknowledge two school groups
from my electorate—year 7s from Dawson Park Primary School in the
public gallery and the year 7 leadership group from Edney Primary School in the
Speaker's gallery.
I note the minister's media release this morning
announcing the latest schools to receive electronic flashing school zone signs.
Can the minister please update the house on the progress of the Liberal–National
government's election commitment to improve road safety throughout
Western Australia?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Forrestfield for the question. I
acknowledge the presence of two groups of students from the member's
electorate. Representatives from those schools, you see before you a quality
local member, especially compared with the one he replaced.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr B.S. Wyatt : Can
we start reflecting on some of your performances?
The SPEAKER :
Member for Victoria Park, I am on my feet. Minister for Transport, please
answer the question.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL :
No-one said I was wrong.
Mr R.H. Cook : How
many chairs did he sniff? None! How many chairs did you sniff?
The SPEAKER : Member for Kwinana, I call you to order
for the first time.
Mr P. Papalia interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I call you to order
for the first time. Minister, can you just answer the question, thanks.
Mr R.H. Cook : I
don't think he was as big on sexual harassment as you were.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Kwinana, I call you to order for the second time.
Withdrawal of Remark
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I ask that the member withdraw that. That is an
accusation that is quite improper.
Mr
R.H. COOK : Am I withdrawing the sexual harassment or the chair
sniffer, sir?
Several members interjected.
Mr R.H. COOK : I
withdraw.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : He
said he withdrew.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I
still note that no-one disagreed with my comment, Mr Speaker.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members! Right, thank you. Member for Cannington, I call you to order for the
first time.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL :
As those students here from Dawson Park Primary School would know, the vast
majority of schools in WA—1 072 of them—have a
40-kilometre-an-hour speed zone outside the school. We, as a government, have
been improving the level of safety for students at schools, and more broadly
for school communities, by installing flashing LED speed signs outside those
schools. That is a really important safety initiative. Interestingly, member
for Forrestfield, of all the serious matters on which I get inquiries from
members of this place, that one probably tops the poll of issues that most, but
not all, local members like to raise with me. The reason is, I think, that it
is a reflection of community concerns about safety in and around school
locations. As a government, we have therefore committed significant funds to
increase the rollout of flashing speed signs at schools. Today we announced
another 66 flashing speed signs that will be placed at schools—39 in
the metropolitan area and 27 in the country area. One of those schools, just
out of interest and coincidentally, is Dawson Park. That is a great outcome for
that school. We will start to install those signs when the school year finishes
in December and through into January, February and March next year. That means
that by the end of the installation program, 237 schools in Western Australia
will have flashing speed lights. That is a fantastic outcome—237
schools around WA with flashing speed lights.
However, as I said, there is a challenge. In total, 1 072
schools have 40-kilometre-an-hour speed signs, which leaves 835 schools that
are yet to have flashing speed signs at the end of this financial year. The
good news for those school communities is that during the election campaign we
agreed to provide $36 million so that every school in WA that currently has a
40-kilometre-an-hour speed sign painted on the road out the front will receive
flashing speed signs over the subsequent three years, whether it be in
metropolitan, rural or regional WA. That is a great outcome for community
safety.
Ms M.M. Quirk : Not
in my electorate.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL :
They are in a lot of electorates and I cannot help it if the member for
Girrawheen does not do her job properly.
Ms M.M. Quirk : I
have written to the minister about it, sunshine!
The SPEAKER :
Member for Girrawheen!
Mr T.R. BUSWELL :
They are in electorates the length and breadth of the state. I might touch on
something since the member for Girrawheen raised it. Flashing speed signs are
located in the member for Armadale's electorate at Armadale Primary
School; at Guildford Primary School in the member for Midland's
electorate; and at Spearwood Alternative School, as we discussed last week, in
the member for Cockburn's electorate. There are three in the member for
Swan Hills' electorate; two in the member for Forrestfield's
electorate; and they are also at North Albany Senior High School, member for
Albany, in Anson Road. They are right across the state and right across
electorates, irrespective of political representation. It is a good outcome.
I want to close with a historic comparison. The Labor Party
was in power for eight years. How many schools received flashing speed lights
in WA in those eight years? Five received flashing speed lights. How many will
receive flashing speed lights in eight years of the Liberal–National
government? It will be 1 067. That is a clear and accurate reflection of the
different priorities of this government.
acknowledge the presence of two groups of students from the member's
electorate. Representatives from those schools, you see before you a quality
local member, especially compared with the one he replaced.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr B.S. Wyatt : Can
we start reflecting on some of your performances?
The SPEAKER :
Member for Victoria Park, I am on my feet. Minister for Transport, please
answer the question.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL :
No-one said I was wrong.
Mr R.H. Cook : How
many chairs did he sniff? None! How many chairs did you sniff?
The SPEAKER : Member for Kwinana, I call you to order
for the first time.
Mr P. Papalia interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I call you to order
for the first time. Minister, can you just answer the question, thanks.
Mr R.H. Cook : I
don't think he was as big on sexual harassment as you were.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Kwinana, I call you to order for the second time.
Withdrawal of Remark
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I ask that the member withdraw that. That is an
accusation that is quite improper.
Mr
R.H. COOK : Am I withdrawing the sexual harassment or the chair
sniffer, sir?
Several members interjected.
Mr R.H. COOK : I
withdraw.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : He
said he withdrew.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I
still note that no-one disagreed with my comment, Mr Speaker.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members! Right, thank you. Member for Cannington, I call you to order for the
first time.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL :
As those students here from Dawson Park Primary School would know, the vast
majority of schools in WA—1 072 of them—have a
40-kilometre-an-hour speed zone outside the school. We, as a government, have
been improving the level of safety for students at schools, and more broadly
for school communities, by installing flashing LED speed signs outside those
schools. That is a really important safety initiative. Interestingly, member
for Forrestfield, of all the serious matters on which I get inquiries from
members of this place, that one probably tops the poll of issues that most, but
not all, local members like to raise with me. The reason is, I think, that it
is a reflection of community concerns about safety in and around school
locations. As a government, we have therefore committed significant funds to
increase the rollout of flashing speed signs at schools. Today we announced
another 66 flashing speed signs that will be placed at schools—39 in
the metropolitan area and 27 in the country area. One of those schools, just
out of interest and coincidentally, is Dawson Park. That is a great outcome for
that school. We will start to install those signs when the school year finishes
in December and through into January, February and March next year. That means
that by the end of the installation program, 237 schools in Western Australia
will have flashing speed lights. That is a fantastic outcome—237
schools around WA with flashing speed lights.
However, as I said, there is a challenge. In total, 1 072
schools have 40-kilometre-an-hour speed signs, which leaves 835 schools that
are yet to have flashing speed signs at the end of this financial year. The
good news for those school communities is that during the election campaign we
agreed to provide $36 million so that every school in WA that currently has a
40-kilometre-an-hour speed sign painted on the road out the front will receive
flashing speed signs over the subsequent three years, whether it be in
metropolitan, rural or regional WA. That is a great outcome for community
safety.
Ms M.M. Quirk : Not
in my electorate.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL :
They are in a lot of electorates and I cannot help it if the member for
Girrawheen does not do her job properly.
Ms M.M. Quirk : I
have written to the minister about it, sunshine!
The SPEAKER :
Member for Girrawheen!
Mr T.R. BUSWELL :
They are in electorates the length and breadth of the state. I might touch on
something since the member for Girrawheen raised it. Flashing speed signs are
located in the member for Armadale's electorate at Armadale Primary
School; at Guildford Primary School in the member for Midland's
electorate; and at Spearwood Alternative School, as we discussed last week, in
the member for Cockburn's electorate. There are three in the member for
Swan Hills' electorate; two in the member for Forrestfield's
electorate; and they are also at North Albany Senior High School, member for
Albany, in Anson Road. They are right across the state and right across
electorates, irrespective of political representation. It is a good outcome.
I want to close with a historic comparison. The Labor Party
was in power for eight years. How many schools received flashing speed lights
in WA in those eight years? Five received flashing speed lights. How many will
receive flashing speed lights in eight years of the Liberal–National
government? It will be 1 067. That is a clear and accurate reflection of the
different priorities of this government.
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