A WA parliamentary question addresses the implementation of mandatory reporting of medical conditions for drivers, questioning the government's preparedness and expected enforcement. The Minister's response focuses on aligning WA with national standards and resource allocation.

AnsweredQoN 250Legislative Council
Asked
1 April 2008
Portfolio
Planning and Infrastructure

QuestionView source ↗

ROAD USERS — MANDATORY REPORTING OF MEDICAL CONDITIONS
I refer to the minister’s announcement of new regulations that will make it mandatory for all drivers to report any permanent or long-term medical condition likely to impair their ability to drive. (1) How many Western Australians suffer from the conditions listed on the Department for Planning and Infrastructure’s website? (2) How many road accidents does the government believe are caused by drivers suffering from — (a) depression; (b) high or low blood pressure; and (c) arthritis? (3) Given the already overworked state of licensing services, how is the government going to cope with the massive influx of inquiries or reports that this policy demands? (4) How many $500 fines are expected to be issued to people who fail to comply with this new law? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2),(4) The mandatory reporting requirement brings Western Australia into line with all other states and territories. It is not anticipated that Western Australian drivers will deviate from the national average regarding either the number of reportable conditions or their failure to report those conditions. (3) The Department for Planning and Infrastructure has allocated a team with dedicated staff to manage the volume of inquiries and reports. I also add that the government’s response to move down this path is a direct result of a finding of a coroner’s report. In my judgement, it is long overdue for Western Australia to be part of a national framework. Western Australia was the only state or territory in the nation that was not part of the national framework, and therefore had different requirements to all the other states and territories.
(1) How many Western Australians suffer from the conditions listed on the Department for Planning and Infrastructure’s website? (2) How many road accidents does the government believe are caused by drivers suffering from — (a) depression; (b) high or low blood pressure; and (c) arthritis? (3) Given the already overworked state of licensing services, how is the government going to cope with the massive influx of inquiries or reports that this policy demands? (4) How many $500 fines are expected to be issued to people who fail to comply with this new law? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2),(4) The mandatory reporting requirement brings Western Australia into line with all other states and territories. It is not anticipated that Western Australian drivers will deviate from the national average regarding either the number of reportable conditions or their failure to report those conditions. (3) The Department for Planning and Infrastructure has allocated a team with dedicated staff to manage the volume of inquiries and reports. I also add that the government’s response to move down this path is a direct result of a finding of a coroner’s report. In my judgement, it is long overdue for Western Australia to be part of a national framework. Western Australia was the only state or territory in the nation that was not part of the national framework, and therefore had different requirements to all the other states and territories.
(2) How many road accidents does the government believe are caused by drivers suffering from — (a) depression; (b) high or low blood pressure; and (c) arthritis? (3) Given the already overworked state of licensing services, how is the government going to cope with the massive influx of inquiries or reports that this policy demands? (4) How many $500 fines are expected to be issued to people who fail to comply with this new law? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2),(4) The mandatory reporting requirement brings Western Australia into line with all other states and territories. It is not anticipated that Western Australian drivers will deviate from the national average regarding either the number of reportable conditions or their failure to report those conditions. (3) The Department for Planning and Infrastructure has allocated a team with dedicated staff to manage the volume of inquiries and reports. I also add that the government’s response to move down this path is a direct result of a finding of a coroner’s report. In my judgement, it is long overdue for Western Australia to be part of a national framework. Western Australia was the only state or territory in the nation that was not part of the national framework, and therefore had different requirements to all the other states and territories.
(b) high or low blood pressure; and (c) arthritis?
(c) arthritis?
(4) How many $500 fines are expected to be issued to people who fail to comply with this new law? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2),(4) The mandatory reporting requirement brings Western Australia into line with all other states and territories. It is not anticipated that Western Australian drivers will deviate from the national average regarding either the number of reportable conditions or their failure to report those conditions. (3) The Department for Planning and Infrastructure has allocated a team with dedicated staff to manage the volume of inquiries and reports. I also add that the government’s response to move down this path is a direct result of a finding of a coroner’s report. In my judgement, it is long overdue for Western Australia to be part of a national framework. Western Australia was the only state or territory in the nation that was not part of the national framework, and therefore had different requirements to all the other states and territories.
Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2),(4) The mandatory reporting requirement brings Western Australia into line with all other states and territories. It is not anticipated that Western Australian drivers will deviate from the national average regarding either the number of reportable conditions or their failure to report those conditions. (3) The Department for Planning and Infrastructure has allocated a team with dedicated staff to manage the volume of inquiries and reports. I also add that the government’s response to move down this path is a direct result of a finding of a coroner’s report. In my judgement, it is long overdue for Western Australia to be part of a national framework. Western Australia was the only state or territory in the nation that was not part of the national framework, and therefore had different requirements to all the other states and territories.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2),(4) The mandatory reporting requirement brings Western Australia into line with all other states and territories. It is not anticipated that Western Australian drivers will deviate from the national average regarding either the number of reportable conditions or their failure to report those conditions. (3) The Department for Planning and Infrastructure has allocated a team with dedicated staff to manage the volume of inquiries and reports. I also add that the government’s response to move down this path is a direct result of a finding of a coroner’s report. In my judgement, it is long overdue for Western Australia to be part of a national framework. Western Australia was the only state or territory in the nation that was not part of the national framework, and therefore had different requirements to all the other states and territories.
(1)-(2),(4) The mandatory reporting requirement brings Western Australia into line with all other states and territories. It is not anticipated that Western Australian drivers will deviate from the national average regarding either the number of reportable conditions or their failure to report those conditions. (3) The Department for Planning and Infrastructure has allocated a team with dedicated staff to manage the volume of inquiries and reports. I also add that the government’s response to move down this path is a direct result of a finding of a coroner’s report. In my judgement, it is long overdue for Western Australia to be part of a national framework. Western Australia was the only state or territory in the nation that was not part of the national framework, and therefore had different requirements to all the other states and territories.
The mandatory reporting requirement brings Western Australia into line with all other states and territories. It is not anticipated that Western Australian drivers will deviate from the national average regarding either the number of reportable conditions or their failure to report those conditions. (3) The Department for Planning and Infrastructure has allocated a team with dedicated staff to manage the volume of inquiries and reports. I also add that the government’s response to move down this path is a direct result of a finding of a coroner’s report. In my judgement, it is long overdue for Western Australia to be part of a national framework. Western Australia was the only state or territory in the nation that was not part of the national framework, and therefore had different requirements to all the other states and territories.
(3) The Department for Planning and Infrastructure has allocated a team with dedicated staff to manage the volume of inquiries and reports. I also add that the government’s response to move down this path is a direct result of a finding of a coroner’s report. In my judgement, it is long overdue for Western Australia to be part of a national framework. Western Australia was the only state or territory in the nation that was not part of the national framework, and therefore had different requirements to all the other states and territories.
I also add that the government’s response to move down this path is a direct result of a finding of a coroner’s report. In my judgement, it is long overdue for Western Australia to be part of a national framework. Western Australia was the only state or territory in the nation that was not part of the national framework, and therefore had different requirements to all the other states and territories.

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