❓ Question regarding allocation of increased revenue from speed and red-light cameras to road safety initiatives, specifically requesting support for a private member's bill to earmark all revenue for road safety. The Minister's response deflects and defends the government's existing road safety funding approach.
AnsweredQoN 254Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ROAD SAFETY — SPEED AND RED-LIGHT CAMERA REVENUE
I refer to the editorial in yesterday’s The West Australian , which read, in part — Police and Road Safety Minister Rob Johnson outlined a grand vision when promoting the Towards Zero strategy in Parliament last year. “We have zero tolerance for road trauma in this State,” he declared. But road safety needs more than talk. It needs the money to back the talk and the revenue from the fines is the obvious place to get it. (1) Given the $56 million increase that the government will receive from speed and red-light camera revenue next year, is the minister prepared to support a private member’s bill to amend the Road Safety Council Act so that all this revenue will be specifically earmarked for road safety rather than the existing provision where only one-third is allocated for this purpose? (2) Will the minister support a private member’s bill to amend the Road Safety Council Act to broaden the scope of road safety initiatives that can be funded under the road trauma trust fund? Mr R.F. JOHNSON
I refer to the editorial in yesterday’s The West Australian , which read, in part — Police and Road Safety Minister Rob Johnson outlined a grand vision when promoting the Towards Zero strategy in Parliament last year. “We have zero tolerance for road trauma in this State,” he declared. But road safety needs more than talk. It needs the money to back the talk and the revenue from the fines is the obvious place to get it. (1) Given the $56 million increase that the government will receive from speed and red-light camera revenue next year, is the minister prepared to support a private member’s bill to amend the Road Safety Council Act so that all this revenue will be specifically earmarked for road safety rather than the existing provision where only one-third is allocated for this purpose? (2) Will the minister support a private member’s bill to amend the Road Safety Council Act to broaden the scope of road safety initiatives that can be funded under the road trauma trust fund? Mr R.F. JOHNSON
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I have been waiting for this question from the member for Girrawheen. She has issued a few press releases but she never gets her facts straight. Ms M.M. Quirk : Are you criticising my work ethic, minister? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, just the waste of paper and the irrelevant trash on it because it bears no resemblance to the truth at all, and I think that some of the journalists are beginning to believe that. I thought that the editorial was a little bit unfair yesterday, together with some of the comments made by the university researcher into fatal accidents and the representative from RACWA, because that person is a member of the Road Safety Council and would be fully aware of the funding for projects that have been allocated for the Towards Zero strategy. The member for Balcatta knows, because he has been around for a long time, that it is not just the road trauma trust fund that finances all the road safety initiatives. The former government could never do that. For the benefit of the member for Girrawheen, I remind her that the four cornerstones of the Towards Zero strategy — Ms M.M. Quirk : You’re not answering the question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will answer it in my own way. The four cornerstones of the Towards Zero strategy are safer roads, safer roadsides, safer vehicles and safer drivers. The Towards Zero strategy encompasses all those areas. A lot of revenue will be coming in because of the extra cameras and digitalised cameras that will be in place from 1 July, and all that revenue will be used for road safety initiatives. Ms M.M. Quirk : It is only one-third. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The other two-thirds go to health to pay for people who have been critically injured in a road accident. Road safety has implications for other areas of government, not just the Office of Road Safety. Many areas of government need finance to deal with the consequences of road trauma. The member should know that as well as anyone. For the benefit of the house, let me say that in relation to the Towards Zero funding, it is not just what comes out of the road trauma trust fund; in the 2010–11 budget, the government will invest more than $1.2 billion on building and maintaining 180 000 kilometres of roads in Western Australia. I assure the member that under this government and under the auspices of the Towards Zero road safety strategy, our engineers and construction people are looking at building new roads, repairing old roads and doing enhancements. One project is in the member’s electorate where we are doing the flyover for the — Ms M.M. Quirk : That is in Nollamara. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : At the junction of Reid Highway and Alexander Drive is a huge black spot where we have seen too many people — Ms J.M. Freeman interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am sure we will come to that sometime. This government is doing that, and the number of people who will be saved from death and injury will be quite substantial. That is all part of this funding. The state government is providing $220 million over the next four years in targeted works through the safer roads and safe black spot programs to ensure that the state road network receives appropriate upgrades. Every time we upgrade a road, we take into account the Towards Zero road safety strategy, which is a very responsible thing for the government to do. This government has increased funding to local governments in 2010–11 by $136 million to assist them to undertake important construction and maintenance works on roads under their control. This government is really serious about the Towards Zero strategy. We want to see the number of deaths drop dramatically, and, just as importantly, we want to see a dramatic drop in the number of those people who are seriously injured and critically injured, which in financial terms costs the state probably about $2 billion a year. That is just the financial cost; there is also the emotional cost that this trauma causes those families, loved ones and friends when friends and family members are injured or killed on our roads. This government is doing everything it can. I think we are doing a pretty good job at the moment with very little help from members opposite, because they did not put any money into that area. Let me assure the member for Girrawheen that she will go a long way to find a more committed Minister for Road Safety than I am anywhere in Australia. I am absolutely 100 per cent committed to road safety, and most members in this house know of my commitment.
“We have zero tolerance for road trauma in this State,” he declared. But road safety needs more than talk. It needs the money to back the talk and the revenue from the fines is the obvious place to get it.
But road safety needs more than talk. It needs the money to back the talk and the revenue from the fines is the obvious place to get it.
(2) Will the minister support a private member’s bill to amend the Road Safety Council Act to broaden the scope of road safety initiatives that can be funded under the road trauma trust fund? Mr R.F. JOHNSON replied: (1)–(2) I have been waiting for this question from the member for Girrawheen. She has issued a few press releases but she never gets her facts straight. Ms M.M. Quirk : Are you criticising my work ethic, minister? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, just the waste of paper and the irrelevant trash on it because it bears no resemblance to the truth at all, and I think that some of the journalists are beginning to believe that. I thought that the editorial was a little bit unfair yesterday, together with some of the comments made by the university researcher into fatal accidents and the representative from RACWA, because that person is a member of the Road Safety Council and would be fully aware of the funding for projects that have been allocated for the Towards Zero strategy. The member for Balcatta knows, because he has been around for a long time, that it is not just the road trauma trust fund that finances all the road safety initiatives. The former government could never do that. For the benefit of the member for Girrawheen, I remind her that the four cornerstones of the Towards Zero strategy — Ms M.M. Quirk : You’re not answering the question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will answer it in my own way. The four cornerstones of the Towards Zero strategy are safer roads, safer roadsides, safer vehicles and safer drivers. The Towards Zero strategy encompasses all those areas. A lot of revenue will be coming in because of the extra cameras and digitalised cameras that will be in place from 1 July, and all that revenue will be used for road safety initiatives. Ms M.M. Quirk : It is only one-third. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The other two-thirds go to health to pay for people who have been critically injured in a road accident. Road safety has implications for other areas of government, not just the Office of Road Safety. Many areas of government need finance to deal with the consequences of road trauma. The member should know that as well as anyone. For the benefit of the house, let me say that in relation to the Towards Zero funding, it is not just what comes out of the road trauma trust fund; in the 2010–11 budget, the government will invest more than $1.2 billion on building and maintaining 180 000 kilometres of roads in Western Australia. I assure the member that under this government and under the auspices of the Towards Zero road safety strategy, our engineers and construction people are looking at building new roads, repairing old roads and doing enhancements. One project is in the member’s electorate where we are doing the flyover for the — Ms M.M. Quirk : That is in Nollamara. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : At the junction of Reid Highway and Alexander Drive is a huge black spot where we have seen too many people — Ms J.M. Freeman interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am sure we will come to that sometime. This government is doing that, and the number of people who will be saved from death and injury will be quite substantial. That is all part of this funding. The state government is providing $220 million over the next four years in targeted works through the safer roads and safe black spot programs to ensure that the state road network receives appropriate upgrades. Every time we upgrade a road, we take into account the Towards Zero road safety strategy, which is a very responsible thing for the government to do. This government has increased funding to local governments in 2010–11 by $136 million to assist them to undertake important construction and maintenance works on roads under their control. This government is really serious about the Towards Zero strategy. We want to see the number of deaths drop dramatically, and, just as importantly, we want to see a dramatic drop in the number of those people who are seriously injured and critically injured, which in financial terms costs the state probably about $2 billion a year. That is just the financial cost; there is also the emotional cost that this trauma causes those families, loved ones and friends when friends and family members are injured or killed on our roads. This government is doing everything it can. I think we are doing a pretty good job at the moment with very little help from members opposite, because they did not put any money into that area. Let me assure the member for Girrawheen that she will go a long way to find a more committed Minister for Road Safety than I am anywhere in Australia. I am absolutely 100 per cent committed to road safety, and most members in this house know of my commitment.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON replied: (1)–(2) I have been waiting for this question from the member for Girrawheen. She has issued a few press releases but she never gets her facts straight. Ms M.M. Quirk : Are you criticising my work ethic, minister? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, just the waste of paper and the irrelevant trash on it because it bears no resemblance to the truth at all, and I think that some of the journalists are beginning to believe that. I thought that the editorial was a little bit unfair yesterday, together with some of the comments made by the university researcher into fatal accidents and the representative from RACWA, because that person is a member of the Road Safety Council and would be fully aware of the funding for projects that have been allocated for the Towards Zero strategy. The member for Balcatta knows, because he has been around for a long time, that it is not just the road trauma trust fund that finances all the road safety initiatives. The former government could never do that. For the benefit of the member for Girrawheen, I remind her that the four cornerstones of the Towards Zero strategy — Ms M.M. Quirk : You’re not answering the question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will answer it in my own way. The four cornerstones of the Towards Zero strategy are safer roads, safer roadsides, safer vehicles and safer drivers. The Towards Zero strategy encompasses all those areas. A lot of revenue will be coming in because of the extra cameras and digitalised cameras that will be in place from 1 July, and all that revenue will be used for road safety initiatives. Ms M.M. Quirk : It is only one-third. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The other two-thirds go to health to pay for people who have been critically injured in a road accident. Road safety has implications for other areas of government, not just the Office of Road Safety. Many areas of government need finance to deal with the consequences of road trauma. The member should know that as well as anyone. For the benefit of the house, let me say that in relation to the Towards Zero funding, it is not just what comes out of the road trauma trust fund; in the 2010–11 budget, the government will invest more than $1.2 billion on building and maintaining 180 000 kilometres of roads in Western Australia. I assure the member that under this government and under the auspices of the Towards Zero road safety strategy, our engineers and construction people are looking at building new roads, repairing old roads and doing enhancements. One project is in the member’s electorate where we are doing the flyover for the — Ms M.M. Quirk : That is in Nollamara. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : At the junction of Reid Highway and Alexander Drive is a huge black spot where we have seen too many people — Ms J.M. Freeman interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am sure we will come to that sometime. This government is doing that, and the number of people who will be saved from death and injury will be quite substantial. That is all part of this funding. The state government is providing $220 million over the next four years in targeted works through the safer roads and safe black spot programs to ensure that the state road network receives appropriate upgrades. Every time we upgrade a road, we take into account the Towards Zero road safety strategy, which is a very responsible thing for the government to do. This government has increased funding to local governments in 2010–11 by $136 million to assist them to undertake important construction and maintenance works on roads under their control. This government is really serious about the Towards Zero strategy. We want to see the number of deaths drop dramatically, and, just as importantly, we want to see a dramatic drop in the number of those people who are seriously injured and critically injured, which in financial terms costs the state probably about $2 billion a year. That is just the financial cost; there is also the emotional cost that this trauma causes those families, loved ones and friends when friends and family members are injured or killed on our roads. This government is doing everything it can. I think we are doing a pretty good job at the moment with very little help from members opposite, because they did not put any money into that area. Let me assure the member for Girrawheen that she will go a long way to find a more committed Minister for Road Safety than I am anywhere in Australia. I am absolutely 100 per cent committed to road safety, and most members in this house know of my commitment.
(1)–(2) I have been waiting for this question from the member for Girrawheen. She has issued a few press releases but she never gets her facts straight. Ms M.M. Quirk : Are you criticising my work ethic, minister? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, just the waste of paper and the irrelevant trash on it because it bears no resemblance to the truth at all, and I think that some of the journalists are beginning to believe that. I thought that the editorial was a little bit unfair yesterday, together with some of the comments made by the university researcher into fatal accidents and the representative from RACWA, because that person is a member of the Road Safety Council and would be fully aware of the funding for projects that have been allocated for the Towards Zero strategy. The member for Balcatta knows, because he has been around for a long time, that it is not just the road trauma trust fund that finances all the road safety initiatives. The former government could never do that. For the benefit of the member for Girrawheen, I remind her that the four cornerstones of the Towards Zero strategy — Ms M.M. Quirk : You’re not answering the question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will answer it in my own way. The four cornerstones of the Towards Zero strategy are safer roads, safer roadsides, safer vehicles and safer drivers. The Towards Zero strategy encompasses all those areas. A lot of revenue will be coming in because of the extra cameras and digitalised cameras that will be in place from 1 July, and all that revenue will be used for road safety initiatives. Ms M.M. Quirk : It is only one-third. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The other two-thirds go to health to pay for people who have been critically injured in a road accident. Road safety has implications for other areas of government, not just the Office of Road Safety. Many areas of government need finance to deal with the consequences of road trauma. The member should know that as well as anyone. For the benefit of the house, let me say that in relation to the Towards Zero funding, it is not just what comes out of the road trauma trust fund; in the 2010–11 budget, the government will invest more than $1.2 billion on building and maintaining 180 000 kilometres of roads in Western Australia. I assure the member that under this government and under the auspices of the Towards Zero road safety strategy, our engineers and construction people are looking at building new roads, repairing old roads and doing enhancements. One project is in the member’s electorate where we are doing the flyover for the — Ms M.M. Quirk : That is in Nollamara. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : At the junction of Reid Highway and Alexander Drive is a huge black spot where we have seen too many people — Ms J.M. Freeman interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am sure we will come to that sometime. This government is doing that, and the number of people who will be saved from death and injury will be quite substantial. That is all part of this funding. The state government is providing $220 million over the next four years in targeted works through the safer roads and safe black spot programs to ensure that the state road network receives appropriate upgrades. Every time we upgrade a road, we take into account the Towards Zero road safety strategy, which is a very responsible thing for the government to do. This government has increased funding to local governments in 2010–11 by $136 million to assist them to undertake important construction and maintenance works on roads under their control. This government is really serious about the Towards Zero strategy. We want to see the number of deaths drop dramatically, and, just as importantly, we want to see a dramatic drop in the number of those people who are seriously injured and critically injured, which in financial terms costs the state probably about $2 billion a year. That is just the financial cost; there is also the emotional cost that this trauma causes those families, loved ones and friends when friends and family members are injured or killed on our roads. This government is doing everything it can. I think we are doing a pretty good job at the moment with very little help from members opposite, because they did not put any money into that area. Let me assure the member for Girrawheen that she will go a long way to find a more committed Minister for Road Safety than I am anywhere in Australia. I am absolutely 100 per cent committed to road safety, and most members in this house know of my commitment.
Ms M.M. Quirk : Are you criticising my work ethic, minister? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, just the waste of paper and the irrelevant trash on it because it bears no resemblance to the truth at all, and I think that some of the journalists are beginning to believe that. I thought that the editorial was a little bit unfair yesterday, together with some of the comments made by the university researcher into fatal accidents and the representative from RACWA, because that person is a member of the Road Safety Council and would be fully aware of the funding for projects that have been allocated for the Towards Zero strategy. The member for Balcatta knows, because he has been around for a long time, that it is not just the road trauma trust fund that finances all the road safety initiatives. The former government could never do that. For the benefit of the member for Girrawheen, I remind her that the four cornerstones of the Towards Zero strategy — Ms M.M. Quirk : You’re not answering the question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will answer it in my own way. The four cornerstones of the Towards Zero strategy are safer roads, safer roadsides, safer vehicles and safer drivers. The Towards Zero strategy encompasses all those areas. A lot of revenue will be coming in because of the extra cameras and digitalised cameras that will be in place from 1 July, and all that revenue will be used for road safety initiatives. Ms M.M. Quirk : It is only one-third. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The other two-thirds go to health to pay for people who have been critically injured in a road accident. Road safety has implications for other areas of government, not just the Office of Road Safety. Many areas of government need finance to deal with the consequences of road trauma. The member should know that as well as anyone. For the benefit of the house, let me say that in relation to the Towards Zero funding, it is not just what comes out of the road trauma trust fund; in the 2010–11 budget, the government will invest more than $1.2 billion on building and maintaining 180 000 kilometres of roads in Western Australia. I assure the member that under this government and under the auspices of the Towards Zero road safety strategy, our engineers and construction people are looking at building new roads, repairing old roads and doing enhancements. One project is in the member’s electorate where we are doing the flyover for the — Ms M.M. Quirk : That is in Nollamara. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : At the junction of Reid Highway and Alexander Drive is a huge black spot where we have seen too many people — Ms J.M. Freeman interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am sure we will come to that sometime. This government is doing that, and the number of people who will be saved from death and injury will be quite substantial. That is all part of this funding. The state government is providing $220 million over the next four years in targeted works through the safer roads and safe black spot programs to ensure that the state road network receives appropriate upgrades. Every time we upgrade a road, we take into account the Towards Zero road safety strategy, which is a very responsible thing for the government to do. This government has increased funding to local governments in 2010–11 by $136 million to assist them to undertake important construction and maintenance works on roads under their control. This government is really serious about the Towards Zero strategy. We want to see the number of deaths drop dramatically, and, just as importantly, we want to see a dramatic drop in the number of those people who are seriously injured and critically injured, which in financial terms costs the state probably about $2 billion a year. That is just the financial cost; there is also the emotional cost that this trauma causes those families, loved ones and friends when friends and family members are injured or killed on our roads. This government is doing everything it can. I think we are doing a pretty good job at the moment with very little help from members opposite, because they did not put any money into that area. Let me assure the member for Girrawheen that she will go a long way to find a more committed Minister for Road Safety than I am anywhere in Australia. I am absolutely 100 per cent committed to road safety, and most members in this house know of my commitment.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, just the waste of paper and the irrelevant trash on it because it bears no resemblance to the truth at all, and I think that some of the journalists are beginning to believe that. I thought that the editorial was a little bit unfair yesterday, together with some of the comments made by the university researcher into fatal accidents and the representative from RACWA, because that person is a member of the Road Safety Council and would be fully aware of the funding for projects that have been allocated for the Towards Zero strategy. The member for Balcatta knows, because he has been around for a long time, that it is not just the road trauma trust fund that finances all the road safety initiatives. The former government could never do that. For the benefit of the member for Girrawheen, I remind her that the four cornerstones of the Towards Zero strategy — Ms M.M. Quirk : You’re not answering the question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will answer it in my own way. The four cornerstones of the Towards Zero strategy are safer roads, safer roadsides, safer vehicles and safer drivers. The Towards Zero strategy encompasses all those areas. A lot of revenue will be coming in because of the extra cameras and digitalised cameras that will be in place from 1 July, and all that revenue will be used for road safety initiatives. Ms M.M. Quirk : It is only one-third. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The other two-thirds go to health to pay for people who have been critically injured in a road accident. Road safety has implications for other areas of government, not just the Office of Road Safety. Many areas of government need finance to deal with the consequences of road trauma. The member should know that as well as anyone. For the benefit of the house, let me say that in relation to the Towards Zero funding, it is not just what comes out of the road trauma trust fund; in the 2010–11 budget, the government will invest more than $1.2 billion on building and maintaining 180 000 kilometres of roads in Western Australia. I assure the member that under this government and under the auspices of the Towards Zero road safety strategy, our engineers and construction people are looking at building new roads, repairing old roads and doing enhancements. One project is in the member’s electorate where we are doing the flyover for the — Ms M.M. Quirk : That is in Nollamara. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : At the junction of Reid Highway and Alexander Drive is a huge black spot where we have seen too many people — Ms J.M. Freeman interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am sure we will come to that sometime. This government is doing that, and the number of people who will be saved from death and injury will be quite substantial. That is all part of this funding. The state government is providing $220 million over the next four years in targeted works through the safer roads and safe black spot programs to ensure that the state road network receives appropriate upgrades. Every time we upgrade a road, we take into account the Towards Zero road safety strategy, which is a very responsible thing for the government to do. This government has increased funding to local governments in 2010–11 by $136 million to assist them to undertake important construction and maintenance works on roads under their control. This government is really serious about the Towards Zero strategy. We want to see the number of deaths drop dramatically, and, just as importantly, we want to see a dramatic drop in the number of those people who are seriously injured and critically injured, which in financial terms costs the state probably about $2 billion a year. That is just the financial cost; there is also the emotional cost that this trauma causes those families, loved ones and friends when friends and family members are injured or killed on our roads. This government is doing everything it can. I think we are doing a pretty good job at the moment with very little help from members opposite, because they did not put any money into that area. Let me assure the member for Girrawheen that she will go a long way to find a more committed Minister for Road Safety than I am anywhere in Australia. I am absolutely 100 per cent committed to road safety, and most members in this house know of my commitment.
Ms M.M. Quirk : You’re not answering the question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will answer it in my own way. The four cornerstones of the Towards Zero strategy are safer roads, safer roadsides, safer vehicles and safer drivers. The Towards Zero strategy encompasses all those areas. A lot of revenue will be coming in because of the extra cameras and digitalised cameras that will be in place from 1 July, and all that revenue will be used for road safety initiatives. Ms M.M. Quirk : It is only one-third. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The other two-thirds go to health to pay for people who have been critically injured in a road accident. Road safety has implications for other areas of government, not just the Office of Road Safety. Many areas of government need finance to deal with the consequences of road trauma. The member should know that as well as anyone. For the benefit of the house, let me say that in relation to the Towards Zero funding, it is not just what comes out of the road trauma trust fund; in the 2010–11 budget, the government will invest more than $1.2 billion on building and maintaining 180 000 kilometres of roads in Western Australia. I assure the member that under this government and under the auspices of the Towards Zero road safety strategy, our engineers and construction people are looking at building new roads, repairing old roads and doing enhancements. One project is in the member’s electorate where we are doing the flyover for the — Ms M.M. Quirk : That is in Nollamara. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : At the junction of Reid Highway and Alexander Drive is a huge black spot where we have seen too many people — Ms J.M. Freeman interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am sure we will come to that sometime. This government is doing that, and the number of people who will be saved from death and injury will be quite substantial. That is all part of this funding. The state government is providing $220 million over the next four years in targeted works through the safer roads and safe black spot programs to ensure that the state road network receives appropriate upgrades. Every time we upgrade a road, we take into account the Towards Zero road safety strategy, which is a very responsible thing for the government to do. This government has increased funding to local governments in 2010–11 by $136 million to assist them to undertake important construction and maintenance works on roads under their control. This government is really serious about the Towards Zero strategy. We want to see the number of deaths drop dramatically, and, just as importantly, we want to see a dramatic drop in the number of those people who are seriously injured and critically injured, which in financial terms costs the state probably about $2 billion a year. That is just the financial cost; there is also the emotional cost that this trauma causes those families, loved ones and friends when friends and family members are injured or killed on our roads. This government is doing everything it can. I think we are doing a pretty good job at the moment with very little help from members opposite, because they did not put any money into that area. Let me assure the member for Girrawheen that she will go a long way to find a more committed Minister for Road Safety than I am anywhere in Australia. I am absolutely 100 per cent committed to road safety, and most members in this house know of my commitment.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will answer it in my own way. The four cornerstones of the Towards Zero strategy are safer roads, safer roadsides, safer vehicles and safer drivers. The Towards Zero strategy encompasses all those areas. A lot of revenue will be coming in because of the extra cameras and digitalised cameras that will be in place from 1 July, and all that revenue will be used for road safety initiatives. Ms M.M. Quirk : It is only one-third. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The other two-thirds go to health to pay for people who have been critically injured in a road accident. Road safety has implications for other areas of government, not just the Office of Road Safety. Many areas of government need finance to deal with the consequences of road trauma. The member should know that as well as anyone. For the benefit of the house, let me say that in relation to the Towards Zero funding, it is not just what comes out of the road trauma trust fund; in the 2010–11 budget, the government will invest more than $1.2 billion on building and maintaining 180 000 kilometres of roads in Western Australia. I assure the member that under this government and under the auspices of the Towards Zero road safety strategy, our engineers and construction people are looking at building new roads, repairing old roads and doing enhancements. One project is in the member’s electorate where we are doing the flyover for the — Ms M.M. Quirk : That is in Nollamara. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : At the junction of Reid Highway and Alexander Drive is a huge black spot where we have seen too many people — Ms J.M. Freeman interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am sure we will come to that sometime. This government is doing that, and the number of people who will be saved from death and injury will be quite substantial. That is all part of this funding. The state government is providing $220 million over the next four years in targeted works through the safer roads and safe black spot programs to ensure that the state road network receives appropriate upgrades. Every time we upgrade a road, we take into account the Towards Zero road safety strategy, which is a very responsible thing for the government to do. This government has increased funding to local governments in 2010–11 by $136 million to assist them to undertake important construction and maintenance works on roads under their control. This government is really serious about the Towards Zero strategy. We want to see the number of deaths drop dramatically, and, just as importantly, we want to see a dramatic drop in the number of those people who are seriously injured and critically injured, which in financial terms costs the state probably about $2 billion a year. That is just the financial cost; there is also the emotional cost that this trauma causes those families, loved ones and friends when friends and family members are injured or killed on our roads. This government is doing everything it can. I think we are doing a pretty good job at the moment with very little help from members opposite, because they did not put any money into that area. Let me assure the member for Girrawheen that she will go a long way to find a more committed Minister for Road Safety than I am anywhere in Australia. I am absolutely 100 per cent committed to road safety, and most members in this house know of my commitment.
Ms M.M. Quirk : It is only one-third. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The other two-thirds go to health to pay for people who have been critically injured in a road accident. Road safety has implications for other areas of government, not just the Office of Road Safety. Many areas of government need finance to deal with the consequences of road trauma. The member should know that as well as anyone. For the benefit of the house, let me say that in relation to the Towards Zero funding, it is not just what comes out of the road trauma trust fund; in the 2010–11 budget, the government will invest more than $1.2 billion on building and maintaining 180 000 kilometres of roads in Western Australia. I assure the member that under this government and under the auspices of the Towards Zero road safety strategy, our engineers and construction people are looking at building new roads, repairing old roads and doing enhancements. One project is in the member’s electorate where we are doing the flyover for the — Ms M.M. Quirk : That is in Nollamara. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : At the junction of Reid Highway and Alexander Drive is a huge black spot where we have seen too many people — Ms J.M. Freeman interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am sure we will come to that sometime. This government is doing that, and the number of people who will be saved from death and injury will be quite substantial. That is all part of this funding. The state government is providing $220 million over the next four years in targeted works through the safer roads and safe black spot programs to ensure that the state road network receives appropriate upgrades. Every time we upgrade a road, we take into account the Towards Zero road safety strategy, which is a very responsible thing for the government to do. This government has increased funding to local governments in 2010–11 by $136 million to assist them to undertake important construction and maintenance works on roads under their control. This government is really serious about the Towards Zero strategy. We want to see the number of deaths drop dramatically, and, just as importantly, we want to see a dramatic drop in the number of those people who are seriously injured and critically injured, which in financial terms costs the state probably about $2 billion a year. That is just the financial cost; there is also the emotional cost that this trauma causes those families, loved ones and friends when friends and family members are injured or killed on our roads. This government is doing everything it can. I think we are doing a pretty good job at the moment with very little help from members opposite, because they did not put any money into that area. Let me assure the member for Girrawheen that she will go a long way to find a more committed Minister for Road Safety than I am anywhere in Australia. I am absolutely 100 per cent committed to road safety, and most members in this house know of my commitment.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The other two-thirds go to health to pay for people who have been critically injured in a road accident. Road safety has implications for other areas of government, not just the Office of Road Safety. Many areas of government need finance to deal with the consequences of road trauma. The member should know that as well as anyone. For the benefit of the house, let me say that in relation to the Towards Zero funding, it is not just what comes out of the road trauma trust fund; in the 2010–11 budget, the government will invest more than $1.2 billion on building and maintaining 180 000 kilometres of roads in Western Australia. I assure the member that under this government and under the auspices of the Towards Zero road safety strategy, our engineers and construction people are looking at building new roads, repairing old roads and doing enhancements. One project is in the member’s electorate where we are doing the flyover for the — Ms M.M. Quirk : That is in Nollamara. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : At the junction of Reid Highway and Alexander Drive is a huge black spot where we have seen too many people — Ms J.M. Freeman interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am sure we will come to that sometime. This government is doing that, and the number of people who will be saved from death and injury will be quite substantial. That is all part of this funding. The state government is providing $220 million over the next four years in targeted works through the safer roads and safe black spot programs to ensure that the state road network receives appropriate upgrades. Every time we upgrade a road, we take into account the Towards Zero road safety strategy, which is a very responsible thing for the government to do. This government has increased funding to local governments in 2010–11 by $136 million to assist them to undertake important construction and maintenance works on roads under their control. This government is really serious about the Towards Zero strategy. We want to see the number of deaths drop dramatically, and, just as importantly, we want to see a dramatic drop in the number of those people who are seriously injured and critically injured, which in financial terms costs the state probably about $2 billion a year. That is just the financial cost; there is also the emotional cost that this trauma causes those families, loved ones and friends when friends and family members are injured or killed on our roads. This government is doing everything it can. I think we are doing a pretty good job at the moment with very little help from members opposite, because they did not put any money into that area. Let me assure the member for Girrawheen that she will go a long way to find a more committed Minister for Road Safety than I am anywhere in Australia. I am absolutely 100 per cent committed to road safety, and most members in this house know of my commitment.
Ms M.M. Quirk : That is in Nollamara. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : At the junction of Reid Highway and Alexander Drive is a huge black spot where we have seen too many people — Ms J.M. Freeman interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am sure we will come to that sometime. This government is doing that, and the number of people who will be saved from death and injury will be quite substantial. That is all part of this funding. The state government is providing $220 million over the next four years in targeted works through the safer roads and safe black spot programs to ensure that the state road network receives appropriate upgrades. Every time we upgrade a road, we take into account the Towards Zero road safety strategy, which is a very responsible thing for the government to do. This government has increased funding to local governments in 2010–11 by $136 million to assist them to undertake important construction and maintenance works on roads under their control. This government is really serious about the Towards Zero strategy. We want to see the number of deaths drop dramatically, and, just as importantly, we want to see a dramatic drop in the number of those people who are seriously injured and critically injured, which in financial terms costs the state probably about $2 billion a year. That is just the financial cost; there is also the emotional cost that this trauma causes those families, loved ones and friends when friends and family members are injured or killed on our roads. This government is doing everything it can. I think we are doing a pretty good job at the moment with very little help from members opposite, because they did not put any money into that area. Let me assure the member for Girrawheen that she will go a long way to find a more committed Minister for Road Safety than I am anywhere in Australia. I am absolutely 100 per cent committed to road safety, and most members in this house know of my commitment.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : At the junction of Reid Highway and Alexander Drive is a huge black spot where we have seen too many people — Ms J.M. Freeman interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am sure we will come to that sometime. This government is doing that, and the number of people who will be saved from death and injury will be quite substantial. That is all part of this funding. The state government is providing $220 million over the next four years in targeted works through the safer roads and safe black spot programs to ensure that the state road network receives appropriate upgrades. Every time we upgrade a road, we take into account the Towards Zero road safety strategy, which is a very responsible thing for the government to do. This government has increased funding to local governments in 2010–11 by $136 million to assist them to undertake important construction and maintenance works on roads under their control. This government is really serious about the Towards Zero strategy. We want to see the number of deaths drop dramatically, and, just as importantly, we want to see a dramatic drop in the number of those people who are seriously injured and critically injured, which in financial terms costs the state probably about $2 billion a year. That is just the financial cost; there is also the emotional cost that this trauma causes those families, loved ones and friends when friends and family members are injured or killed on our roads. This government is doing everything it can. I think we are doing a pretty good job at the moment with very little help from members opposite, because they did not put any money into that area. Let me assure the member for Girrawheen that she will go a long way to find a more committed Minister for Road Safety than I am anywhere in Australia. I am absolutely 100 per cent committed to road safety, and most members in this house know of my commitment.
Ms J.M. Freeman interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am sure we will come to that sometime. This government is doing that, and the number of people who will be saved from death and injury will be quite substantial. That is all part of this funding. The state government is providing $220 million over the next four years in targeted works through the safer roads and safe black spot programs to ensure that the state road network receives appropriate upgrades. Every time we upgrade a road, we take into account the Towards Zero road safety strategy, which is a very responsible thing for the government to do. This government has increased funding to local governments in 2010–11 by $136 million to assist them to undertake important construction and maintenance works on roads under their control. This government is really serious about the Towards Zero strategy. We want to see the number of deaths drop dramatically, and, just as importantly, we want to see a dramatic drop in the number of those people who are seriously injured and critically injured, which in financial terms costs the state probably about $2 billion a year. That is just the financial cost; there is also the emotional cost that this trauma causes those families, loved ones and friends when friends and family members are injured or killed on our roads. This government is doing everything it can. I think we are doing a pretty good job at the moment with very little help from members opposite, because they did not put any money into that area. Let me assure the member for Girrawheen that she will go a long way to find a more committed Minister for Road Safety than I am anywhere in Australia. I am absolutely 100 per cent committed to road safety, and most members in this house know of my commitment.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am sure we will come to that sometime. This government is doing that, and the number of people who will be saved from death and injury will be quite substantial. That is all part of this funding. The state government is providing $220 million over the next four years in targeted works through the safer roads and safe black spot programs to ensure that the state road network receives appropriate upgrades. Every time we upgrade a road, we take into account the Towards Zero road safety strategy, which is a very responsible thing for the government to do. This government has increased funding to local governments in 2010–11 by $136 million to assist them to undertake important construction and maintenance works on roads under their control. This government is really serious about the Towards Zero strategy. We want to see the number of deaths drop dramatically, and, just as importantly, we want to see a dramatic drop in the number of those people who are seriously injured and critically injured, which in financial terms costs the state probably about $2 billion a year. That is just the financial cost; there is also the emotional cost that this trauma causes those families, loved ones and friends when friends and family members are injured or killed on our roads. This government is doing everything it can. I think we are doing a pretty good job at the moment with very little help from members opposite, because they did not put any money into that area. Let me assure the member for Girrawheen that she will go a long way to find a more committed Minister for Road Safety than I am anywhere in Australia. I am absolutely 100 per cent committed to road safety, and most members in this house know of my commitment.
“We have zero tolerance for road trauma in this State,” he declared. But road safety needs more than talk. It needs the money to back the talk and the revenue from the fines is the obvious place to get it.
But road safety needs more than talk. It needs the money to back the talk and the revenue from the fines is the obvious place to get it.
(2) Will the minister support a private member’s bill to amend the Road Safety Council Act to broaden the scope of road safety initiatives that can be funded under the road trauma trust fund? Mr R.F. JOHNSON replied: (1)–(2) I have been waiting for this question from the member for Girrawheen. She has issued a few press releases but she never gets her facts straight. Ms M.M. Quirk : Are you criticising my work ethic, minister? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, just the waste of paper and the irrelevant trash on it because it bears no resemblance to the truth at all, and I think that some of the journalists are beginning to believe that. I thought that the editorial was a little bit unfair yesterday, together with some of the comments made by the university researcher into fatal accidents and the representative from RACWA, because that person is a member of the Road Safety Council and would be fully aware of the funding for projects that have been allocated for the Towards Zero strategy. The member for Balcatta knows, because he has been around for a long time, that it is not just the road trauma trust fund that finances all the road safety initiatives. The former government could never do that. For the benefit of the member for Girrawheen, I remind her that the four cornerstones of the Towards Zero strategy — Ms M.M. Quirk : You’re not answering the question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will answer it in my own way. The four cornerstones of the Towards Zero strategy are safer roads, safer roadsides, safer vehicles and safer drivers. The Towards Zero strategy encompasses all those areas. A lot of revenue will be coming in because of the extra cameras and digitalised cameras that will be in place from 1 July, and all that revenue will be used for road safety initiatives. Ms M.M. Quirk : It is only one-third. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The other two-thirds go to health to pay for people who have been critically injured in a road accident. Road safety has implications for other areas of government, not just the Office of Road Safety. Many areas of government need finance to deal with the consequences of road trauma. The member should know that as well as anyone. For the benefit of the house, let me say that in relation to the Towards Zero funding, it is not just what comes out of the road trauma trust fund; in the 2010–11 budget, the government will invest more than $1.2 billion on building and maintaining 180 000 kilometres of roads in Western Australia. I assure the member that under this government and under the auspices of the Towards Zero road safety strategy, our engineers and construction people are looking at building new roads, repairing old roads and doing enhancements. One project is in the member’s electorate where we are doing the flyover for the — Ms M.M. Quirk : That is in Nollamara. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : At the junction of Reid Highway and Alexander Drive is a huge black spot where we have seen too many people — Ms J.M. Freeman interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am sure we will come to that sometime. This government is doing that, and the number of people who will be saved from death and injury will be quite substantial. That is all part of this funding. The state government is providing $220 million over the next four years in targeted works through the safer roads and safe black spot programs to ensure that the state road network receives appropriate upgrades. Every time we upgrade a road, we take into account the Towards Zero road safety strategy, which is a very responsible thing for the government to do. This government has increased funding to local governments in 2010–11 by $136 million to assist them to undertake important construction and maintenance works on roads under their control. This government is really serious about the Towards Zero strategy. We want to see the number of deaths drop dramatically, and, just as importantly, we want to see a dramatic drop in the number of those people who are seriously injured and critically injured, which in financial terms costs the state probably about $2 billion a year. That is just the financial cost; there is also the emotional cost that this trauma causes those families, loved ones and friends when friends and family members are injured or killed on our roads. This government is doing everything it can. I think we are doing a pretty good job at the moment with very little help from members opposite, because they did not put any money into that area. Let me assure the member for Girrawheen that she will go a long way to find a more committed Minister for Road Safety than I am anywhere in Australia. I am absolutely 100 per cent committed to road safety, and most members in this house know of my commitment.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON replied: (1)–(2) I have been waiting for this question from the member for Girrawheen. She has issued a few press releases but she never gets her facts straight. Ms M.M. Quirk : Are you criticising my work ethic, minister? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, just the waste of paper and the irrelevant trash on it because it bears no resemblance to the truth at all, and I think that some of the journalists are beginning to believe that. I thought that the editorial was a little bit unfair yesterday, together with some of the comments made by the university researcher into fatal accidents and the representative from RACWA, because that person is a member of the Road Safety Council and would be fully aware of the funding for projects that have been allocated for the Towards Zero strategy. The member for Balcatta knows, because he has been around for a long time, that it is not just the road trauma trust fund that finances all the road safety initiatives. The former government could never do that. For the benefit of the member for Girrawheen, I remind her that the four cornerstones of the Towards Zero strategy — Ms M.M. Quirk : You’re not answering the question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will answer it in my own way. The four cornerstones of the Towards Zero strategy are safer roads, safer roadsides, safer vehicles and safer drivers. The Towards Zero strategy encompasses all those areas. A lot of revenue will be coming in because of the extra cameras and digitalised cameras that will be in place from 1 July, and all that revenue will be used for road safety initiatives. Ms M.M. Quirk : It is only one-third. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The other two-thirds go to health to pay for people who have been critically injured in a road accident. Road safety has implications for other areas of government, not just the Office of Road Safety. Many areas of government need finance to deal with the consequences of road trauma. The member should know that as well as anyone. For the benefit of the house, let me say that in relation to the Towards Zero funding, it is not just what comes out of the road trauma trust fund; in the 2010–11 budget, the government will invest more than $1.2 billion on building and maintaining 180 000 kilometres of roads in Western Australia. I assure the member that under this government and under the auspices of the Towards Zero road safety strategy, our engineers and construction people are looking at building new roads, repairing old roads and doing enhancements. One project is in the member’s electorate where we are doing the flyover for the — Ms M.M. Quirk : That is in Nollamara. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : At the junction of Reid Highway and Alexander Drive is a huge black spot where we have seen too many people — Ms J.M. Freeman interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am sure we will come to that sometime. This government is doing that, and the number of people who will be saved from death and injury will be quite substantial. That is all part of this funding. The state government is providing $220 million over the next four years in targeted works through the safer roads and safe black spot programs to ensure that the state road network receives appropriate upgrades. Every time we upgrade a road, we take into account the Towards Zero road safety strategy, which is a very responsible thing for the government to do. This government has increased funding to local governments in 2010–11 by $136 million to assist them to undertake important construction and maintenance works on roads under their control. This government is really serious about the Towards Zero strategy. We want to see the number of deaths drop dramatically, and, just as importantly, we want to see a dramatic drop in the number of those people who are seriously injured and critically injured, which in financial terms costs the state probably about $2 billion a year. That is just the financial cost; there is also the emotional cost that this trauma causes those families, loved ones and friends when friends and family members are injured or killed on our roads. This government is doing everything it can. I think we are doing a pretty good job at the moment with very little help from members opposite, because they did not put any money into that area. Let me assure the member for Girrawheen that she will go a long way to find a more committed Minister for Road Safety than I am anywhere in Australia. I am absolutely 100 per cent committed to road safety, and most members in this house know of my commitment.
(1)–(2) I have been waiting for this question from the member for Girrawheen. She has issued a few press releases but she never gets her facts straight. Ms M.M. Quirk : Are you criticising my work ethic, minister? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, just the waste of paper and the irrelevant trash on it because it bears no resemblance to the truth at all, and I think that some of the journalists are beginning to believe that. I thought that the editorial was a little bit unfair yesterday, together with some of the comments made by the university researcher into fatal accidents and the representative from RACWA, because that person is a member of the Road Safety Council and would be fully aware of the funding for projects that have been allocated for the Towards Zero strategy. The member for Balcatta knows, because he has been around for a long time, that it is not just the road trauma trust fund that finances all the road safety initiatives. The former government could never do that. For the benefit of the member for Girrawheen, I remind her that the four cornerstones of the Towards Zero strategy — Ms M.M. Quirk : You’re not answering the question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will answer it in my own way. The four cornerstones of the Towards Zero strategy are safer roads, safer roadsides, safer vehicles and safer drivers. The Towards Zero strategy encompasses all those areas. A lot of revenue will be coming in because of the extra cameras and digitalised cameras that will be in place from 1 July, and all that revenue will be used for road safety initiatives. Ms M.M. Quirk : It is only one-third. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The other two-thirds go to health to pay for people who have been critically injured in a road accident. Road safety has implications for other areas of government, not just the Office of Road Safety. Many areas of government need finance to deal with the consequences of road trauma. The member should know that as well as anyone. For the benefit of the house, let me say that in relation to the Towards Zero funding, it is not just what comes out of the road trauma trust fund; in the 2010–11 budget, the government will invest more than $1.2 billion on building and maintaining 180 000 kilometres of roads in Western Australia. I assure the member that under this government and under the auspices of the Towards Zero road safety strategy, our engineers and construction people are looking at building new roads, repairing old roads and doing enhancements. One project is in the member’s electorate where we are doing the flyover for the — Ms M.M. Quirk : That is in Nollamara. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : At the junction of Reid Highway and Alexander Drive is a huge black spot where we have seen too many people — Ms J.M. Freeman interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am sure we will come to that sometime. This government is doing that, and the number of people who will be saved from death and injury will be quite substantial. That is all part of this funding. The state government is providing $220 million over the next four years in targeted works through the safer roads and safe black spot programs to ensure that the state road network receives appropriate upgrades. Every time we upgrade a road, we take into account the Towards Zero road safety strategy, which is a very responsible thing for the government to do. This government has increased funding to local governments in 2010–11 by $136 million to assist them to undertake important construction and maintenance works on roads under their control. This government is really serious about the Towards Zero strategy. We want to see the number of deaths drop dramatically, and, just as importantly, we want to see a dramatic drop in the number of those people who are seriously injured and critically injured, which in financial terms costs the state probably about $2 billion a year. That is just the financial cost; there is also the emotional cost that this trauma causes those families, loved ones and friends when friends and family members are injured or killed on our roads. This government is doing everything it can. I think we are doing a pretty good job at the moment with very little help from members opposite, because they did not put any money into that area. Let me assure the member for Girrawheen that she will go a long way to find a more committed Minister for Road Safety than I am anywhere in Australia. I am absolutely 100 per cent committed to road safety, and most members in this house know of my commitment.
Ms M.M. Quirk : Are you criticising my work ethic, minister? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, just the waste of paper and the irrelevant trash on it because it bears no resemblance to the truth at all, and I think that some of the journalists are beginning to believe that. I thought that the editorial was a little bit unfair yesterday, together with some of the comments made by the university researcher into fatal accidents and the representative from RACWA, because that person is a member of the Road Safety Council and would be fully aware of the funding for projects that have been allocated for the Towards Zero strategy. The member for Balcatta knows, because he has been around for a long time, that it is not just the road trauma trust fund that finances all the road safety initiatives. The former government could never do that. For the benefit of the member for Girrawheen, I remind her that the four cornerstones of the Towards Zero strategy — Ms M.M. Quirk : You’re not answering the question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will answer it in my own way. The four cornerstones of the Towards Zero strategy are safer roads, safer roadsides, safer vehicles and safer drivers. The Towards Zero strategy encompasses all those areas. A lot of revenue will be coming in because of the extra cameras and digitalised cameras that will be in place from 1 July, and all that revenue will be used for road safety initiatives. Ms M.M. Quirk : It is only one-third. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The other two-thirds go to health to pay for people who have been critically injured in a road accident. Road safety has implications for other areas of government, not just the Office of Road Safety. Many areas of government need finance to deal with the consequences of road trauma. The member should know that as well as anyone. For the benefit of the house, let me say that in relation to the Towards Zero funding, it is not just what comes out of the road trauma trust fund; in the 2010–11 budget, the government will invest more than $1.2 billion on building and maintaining 180 000 kilometres of roads in Western Australia. I assure the member that under this government and under the auspices of the Towards Zero road safety strategy, our engineers and construction people are looking at building new roads, repairing old roads and doing enhancements. One project is in the member’s electorate where we are doing the flyover for the — Ms M.M. Quirk : That is in Nollamara. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : At the junction of Reid Highway and Alexander Drive is a huge black spot where we have seen too many people — Ms J.M. Freeman interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am sure we will come to that sometime. This government is doing that, and the number of people who will be saved from death and injury will be quite substantial. That is all part of this funding. The state government is providing $220 million over the next four years in targeted works through the safer roads and safe black spot programs to ensure that the state road network receives appropriate upgrades. Every time we upgrade a road, we take into account the Towards Zero road safety strategy, which is a very responsible thing for the government to do. This government has increased funding to local governments in 2010–11 by $136 million to assist them to undertake important construction and maintenance works on roads under their control. This government is really serious about the Towards Zero strategy. We want to see the number of deaths drop dramatically, and, just as importantly, we want to see a dramatic drop in the number of those people who are seriously injured and critically injured, which in financial terms costs the state probably about $2 billion a year. That is just the financial cost; there is also the emotional cost that this trauma causes those families, loved ones and friends when friends and family members are injured or killed on our roads. This government is doing everything it can. I think we are doing a pretty good job at the moment with very little help from members opposite, because they did not put any money into that area. Let me assure the member for Girrawheen that she will go a long way to find a more committed Minister for Road Safety than I am anywhere in Australia. I am absolutely 100 per cent committed to road safety, and most members in this house know of my commitment.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No, just the waste of paper and the irrelevant trash on it because it bears no resemblance to the truth at all, and I think that some of the journalists are beginning to believe that. I thought that the editorial was a little bit unfair yesterday, together with some of the comments made by the university researcher into fatal accidents and the representative from RACWA, because that person is a member of the Road Safety Council and would be fully aware of the funding for projects that have been allocated for the Towards Zero strategy. The member for Balcatta knows, because he has been around for a long time, that it is not just the road trauma trust fund that finances all the road safety initiatives. The former government could never do that. For the benefit of the member for Girrawheen, I remind her that the four cornerstones of the Towards Zero strategy — Ms M.M. Quirk : You’re not answering the question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will answer it in my own way. The four cornerstones of the Towards Zero strategy are safer roads, safer roadsides, safer vehicles and safer drivers. The Towards Zero strategy encompasses all those areas. A lot of revenue will be coming in because of the extra cameras and digitalised cameras that will be in place from 1 July, and all that revenue will be used for road safety initiatives. Ms M.M. Quirk : It is only one-third. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The other two-thirds go to health to pay for people who have been critically injured in a road accident. Road safety has implications for other areas of government, not just the Office of Road Safety. Many areas of government need finance to deal with the consequences of road trauma. The member should know that as well as anyone. For the benefit of the house, let me say that in relation to the Towards Zero funding, it is not just what comes out of the road trauma trust fund; in the 2010–11 budget, the government will invest more than $1.2 billion on building and maintaining 180 000 kilometres of roads in Western Australia. I assure the member that under this government and under the auspices of the Towards Zero road safety strategy, our engineers and construction people are looking at building new roads, repairing old roads and doing enhancements. One project is in the member’s electorate where we are doing the flyover for the — Ms M.M. Quirk : That is in Nollamara. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : At the junction of Reid Highway and Alexander Drive is a huge black spot where we have seen too many people — Ms J.M. Freeman interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am sure we will come to that sometime. This government is doing that, and the number of people who will be saved from death and injury will be quite substantial. That is all part of this funding. The state government is providing $220 million over the next four years in targeted works through the safer roads and safe black spot programs to ensure that the state road network receives appropriate upgrades. Every time we upgrade a road, we take into account the Towards Zero road safety strategy, which is a very responsible thing for the government to do. This government has increased funding to local governments in 2010–11 by $136 million to assist them to undertake important construction and maintenance works on roads under their control. This government is really serious about the Towards Zero strategy. We want to see the number of deaths drop dramatically, and, just as importantly, we want to see a dramatic drop in the number of those people who are seriously injured and critically injured, which in financial terms costs the state probably about $2 billion a year. That is just the financial cost; there is also the emotional cost that this trauma causes those families, loved ones and friends when friends and family members are injured or killed on our roads. This government is doing everything it can. I think we are doing a pretty good job at the moment with very little help from members opposite, because they did not put any money into that area. Let me assure the member for Girrawheen that she will go a long way to find a more committed Minister for Road Safety than I am anywhere in Australia. I am absolutely 100 per cent committed to road safety, and most members in this house know of my commitment.
Ms M.M. Quirk : You’re not answering the question. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will answer it in my own way. The four cornerstones of the Towards Zero strategy are safer roads, safer roadsides, safer vehicles and safer drivers. The Towards Zero strategy encompasses all those areas. A lot of revenue will be coming in because of the extra cameras and digitalised cameras that will be in place from 1 July, and all that revenue will be used for road safety initiatives. Ms M.M. Quirk : It is only one-third. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The other two-thirds go to health to pay for people who have been critically injured in a road accident. Road safety has implications for other areas of government, not just the Office of Road Safety. Many areas of government need finance to deal with the consequences of road trauma. The member should know that as well as anyone. For the benefit of the house, let me say that in relation to the Towards Zero funding, it is not just what comes out of the road trauma trust fund; in the 2010–11 budget, the government will invest more than $1.2 billion on building and maintaining 180 000 kilometres of roads in Western Australia. I assure the member that under this government and under the auspices of the Towards Zero road safety strategy, our engineers and construction people are looking at building new roads, repairing old roads and doing enhancements. One project is in the member’s electorate where we are doing the flyover for the — Ms M.M. Quirk : That is in Nollamara. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : At the junction of Reid Highway and Alexander Drive is a huge black spot where we have seen too many people — Ms J.M. Freeman interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am sure we will come to that sometime. This government is doing that, and the number of people who will be saved from death and injury will be quite substantial. That is all part of this funding. The state government is providing $220 million over the next four years in targeted works through the safer roads and safe black spot programs to ensure that the state road network receives appropriate upgrades. Every time we upgrade a road, we take into account the Towards Zero road safety strategy, which is a very responsible thing for the government to do. This government has increased funding to local governments in 2010–11 by $136 million to assist them to undertake important construction and maintenance works on roads under their control. This government is really serious about the Towards Zero strategy. We want to see the number of deaths drop dramatically, and, just as importantly, we want to see a dramatic drop in the number of those people who are seriously injured and critically injured, which in financial terms costs the state probably about $2 billion a year. That is just the financial cost; there is also the emotional cost that this trauma causes those families, loved ones and friends when friends and family members are injured or killed on our roads. This government is doing everything it can. I think we are doing a pretty good job at the moment with very little help from members opposite, because they did not put any money into that area. Let me assure the member for Girrawheen that she will go a long way to find a more committed Minister for Road Safety than I am anywhere in Australia. I am absolutely 100 per cent committed to road safety, and most members in this house know of my commitment.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will answer it in my own way. The four cornerstones of the Towards Zero strategy are safer roads, safer roadsides, safer vehicles and safer drivers. The Towards Zero strategy encompasses all those areas. A lot of revenue will be coming in because of the extra cameras and digitalised cameras that will be in place from 1 July, and all that revenue will be used for road safety initiatives. Ms M.M. Quirk : It is only one-third. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The other two-thirds go to health to pay for people who have been critically injured in a road accident. Road safety has implications for other areas of government, not just the Office of Road Safety. Many areas of government need finance to deal with the consequences of road trauma. The member should know that as well as anyone. For the benefit of the house, let me say that in relation to the Towards Zero funding, it is not just what comes out of the road trauma trust fund; in the 2010–11 budget, the government will invest more than $1.2 billion on building and maintaining 180 000 kilometres of roads in Western Australia. I assure the member that under this government and under the auspices of the Towards Zero road safety strategy, our engineers and construction people are looking at building new roads, repairing old roads and doing enhancements. One project is in the member’s electorate where we are doing the flyover for the — Ms M.M. Quirk : That is in Nollamara. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : At the junction of Reid Highway and Alexander Drive is a huge black spot where we have seen too many people — Ms J.M. Freeman interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am sure we will come to that sometime. This government is doing that, and the number of people who will be saved from death and injury will be quite substantial. That is all part of this funding. The state government is providing $220 million over the next four years in targeted works through the safer roads and safe black spot programs to ensure that the state road network receives appropriate upgrades. Every time we upgrade a road, we take into account the Towards Zero road safety strategy, which is a very responsible thing for the government to do. This government has increased funding to local governments in 2010–11 by $136 million to assist them to undertake important construction and maintenance works on roads under their control. This government is really serious about the Towards Zero strategy. We want to see the number of deaths drop dramatically, and, just as importantly, we want to see a dramatic drop in the number of those people who are seriously injured and critically injured, which in financial terms costs the state probably about $2 billion a year. That is just the financial cost; there is also the emotional cost that this trauma causes those families, loved ones and friends when friends and family members are injured or killed on our roads. This government is doing everything it can. I think we are doing a pretty good job at the moment with very little help from members opposite, because they did not put any money into that area. Let me assure the member for Girrawheen that she will go a long way to find a more committed Minister for Road Safety than I am anywhere in Australia. I am absolutely 100 per cent committed to road safety, and most members in this house know of my commitment.
Ms M.M. Quirk : It is only one-third. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The other two-thirds go to health to pay for people who have been critically injured in a road accident. Road safety has implications for other areas of government, not just the Office of Road Safety. Many areas of government need finance to deal with the consequences of road trauma. The member should know that as well as anyone. For the benefit of the house, let me say that in relation to the Towards Zero funding, it is not just what comes out of the road trauma trust fund; in the 2010–11 budget, the government will invest more than $1.2 billion on building and maintaining 180 000 kilometres of roads in Western Australia. I assure the member that under this government and under the auspices of the Towards Zero road safety strategy, our engineers and construction people are looking at building new roads, repairing old roads and doing enhancements. One project is in the member’s electorate where we are doing the flyover for the — Ms M.M. Quirk : That is in Nollamara. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : At the junction of Reid Highway and Alexander Drive is a huge black spot where we have seen too many people — Ms J.M. Freeman interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am sure we will come to that sometime. This government is doing that, and the number of people who will be saved from death and injury will be quite substantial. That is all part of this funding. The state government is providing $220 million over the next four years in targeted works through the safer roads and safe black spot programs to ensure that the state road network receives appropriate upgrades. Every time we upgrade a road, we take into account the Towards Zero road safety strategy, which is a very responsible thing for the government to do. This government has increased funding to local governments in 2010–11 by $136 million to assist them to undertake important construction and maintenance works on roads under their control. This government is really serious about the Towards Zero strategy. We want to see the number of deaths drop dramatically, and, just as importantly, we want to see a dramatic drop in the number of those people who are seriously injured and critically injured, which in financial terms costs the state probably about $2 billion a year. That is just the financial cost; there is also the emotional cost that this trauma causes those families, loved ones and friends when friends and family members are injured or killed on our roads. This government is doing everything it can. I think we are doing a pretty good job at the moment with very little help from members opposite, because they did not put any money into that area. Let me assure the member for Girrawheen that she will go a long way to find a more committed Minister for Road Safety than I am anywhere in Australia. I am absolutely 100 per cent committed to road safety, and most members in this house know of my commitment.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The other two-thirds go to health to pay for people who have been critically injured in a road accident. Road safety has implications for other areas of government, not just the Office of Road Safety. Many areas of government need finance to deal with the consequences of road trauma. The member should know that as well as anyone. For the benefit of the house, let me say that in relation to the Towards Zero funding, it is not just what comes out of the road trauma trust fund; in the 2010–11 budget, the government will invest more than $1.2 billion on building and maintaining 180 000 kilometres of roads in Western Australia. I assure the member that under this government and under the auspices of the Towards Zero road safety strategy, our engineers and construction people are looking at building new roads, repairing old roads and doing enhancements. One project is in the member’s electorate where we are doing the flyover for the — Ms M.M. Quirk : That is in Nollamara. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : At the junction of Reid Highway and Alexander Drive is a huge black spot where we have seen too many people — Ms J.M. Freeman interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am sure we will come to that sometime. This government is doing that, and the number of people who will be saved from death and injury will be quite substantial. That is all part of this funding. The state government is providing $220 million over the next four years in targeted works through the safer roads and safe black spot programs to ensure that the state road network receives appropriate upgrades. Every time we upgrade a road, we take into account the Towards Zero road safety strategy, which is a very responsible thing for the government to do. This government has increased funding to local governments in 2010–11 by $136 million to assist them to undertake important construction and maintenance works on roads under their control. This government is really serious about the Towards Zero strategy. We want to see the number of deaths drop dramatically, and, just as importantly, we want to see a dramatic drop in the number of those people who are seriously injured and critically injured, which in financial terms costs the state probably about $2 billion a year. That is just the financial cost; there is also the emotional cost that this trauma causes those families, loved ones and friends when friends and family members are injured or killed on our roads. This government is doing everything it can. I think we are doing a pretty good job at the moment with very little help from members opposite, because they did not put any money into that area. Let me assure the member for Girrawheen that she will go a long way to find a more committed Minister for Road Safety than I am anywhere in Australia. I am absolutely 100 per cent committed to road safety, and most members in this house know of my commitment.
Ms M.M. Quirk : That is in Nollamara. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : At the junction of Reid Highway and Alexander Drive is a huge black spot where we have seen too many people — Ms J.M. Freeman interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am sure we will come to that sometime. This government is doing that, and the number of people who will be saved from death and injury will be quite substantial. That is all part of this funding. The state government is providing $220 million over the next four years in targeted works through the safer roads and safe black spot programs to ensure that the state road network receives appropriate upgrades. Every time we upgrade a road, we take into account the Towards Zero road safety strategy, which is a very responsible thing for the government to do. This government has increased funding to local governments in 2010–11 by $136 million to assist them to undertake important construction and maintenance works on roads under their control. This government is really serious about the Towards Zero strategy. We want to see the number of deaths drop dramatically, and, just as importantly, we want to see a dramatic drop in the number of those people who are seriously injured and critically injured, which in financial terms costs the state probably about $2 billion a year. That is just the financial cost; there is also the emotional cost that this trauma causes those families, loved ones and friends when friends and family members are injured or killed on our roads. This government is doing everything it can. I think we are doing a pretty good job at the moment with very little help from members opposite, because they did not put any money into that area. Let me assure the member for Girrawheen that she will go a long way to find a more committed Minister for Road Safety than I am anywhere in Australia. I am absolutely 100 per cent committed to road safety, and most members in this house know of my commitment.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : At the junction of Reid Highway and Alexander Drive is a huge black spot where we have seen too many people — Ms J.M. Freeman interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am sure we will come to that sometime. This government is doing that, and the number of people who will be saved from death and injury will be quite substantial. That is all part of this funding. The state government is providing $220 million over the next four years in targeted works through the safer roads and safe black spot programs to ensure that the state road network receives appropriate upgrades. Every time we upgrade a road, we take into account the Towards Zero road safety strategy, which is a very responsible thing for the government to do. This government has increased funding to local governments in 2010–11 by $136 million to assist them to undertake important construction and maintenance works on roads under their control. This government is really serious about the Towards Zero strategy. We want to see the number of deaths drop dramatically, and, just as importantly, we want to see a dramatic drop in the number of those people who are seriously injured and critically injured, which in financial terms costs the state probably about $2 billion a year. That is just the financial cost; there is also the emotional cost that this trauma causes those families, loved ones and friends when friends and family members are injured or killed on our roads. This government is doing everything it can. I think we are doing a pretty good job at the moment with very little help from members opposite, because they did not put any money into that area. Let me assure the member for Girrawheen that she will go a long way to find a more committed Minister for Road Safety than I am anywhere in Australia. I am absolutely 100 per cent committed to road safety, and most members in this house know of my commitment.
Ms J.M. Freeman interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am sure we will come to that sometime. This government is doing that, and the number of people who will be saved from death and injury will be quite substantial. That is all part of this funding. The state government is providing $220 million over the next four years in targeted works through the safer roads and safe black spot programs to ensure that the state road network receives appropriate upgrades. Every time we upgrade a road, we take into account the Towards Zero road safety strategy, which is a very responsible thing for the government to do. This government has increased funding to local governments in 2010–11 by $136 million to assist them to undertake important construction and maintenance works on roads under their control. This government is really serious about the Towards Zero strategy. We want to see the number of deaths drop dramatically, and, just as importantly, we want to see a dramatic drop in the number of those people who are seriously injured and critically injured, which in financial terms costs the state probably about $2 billion a year. That is just the financial cost; there is also the emotional cost that this trauma causes those families, loved ones and friends when friends and family members are injured or killed on our roads. This government is doing everything it can. I think we are doing a pretty good job at the moment with very little help from members opposite, because they did not put any money into that area. Let me assure the member for Girrawheen that she will go a long way to find a more committed Minister for Road Safety than I am anywhere in Australia. I am absolutely 100 per cent committed to road safety, and most members in this house know of my commitment.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am sure we will come to that sometime. This government is doing that, and the number of people who will be saved from death and injury will be quite substantial. That is all part of this funding. The state government is providing $220 million over the next four years in targeted works through the safer roads and safe black spot programs to ensure that the state road network receives appropriate upgrades. Every time we upgrade a road, we take into account the Towards Zero road safety strategy, which is a very responsible thing for the government to do. This government has increased funding to local governments in 2010–11 by $136 million to assist them to undertake important construction and maintenance works on roads under their control. This government is really serious about the Towards Zero strategy. We want to see the number of deaths drop dramatically, and, just as importantly, we want to see a dramatic drop in the number of those people who are seriously injured and critically injured, which in financial terms costs the state probably about $2 billion a year. That is just the financial cost; there is also the emotional cost that this trauma causes those families, loved ones and friends when friends and family members are injured or killed on our roads. This government is doing everything it can. I think we are doing a pretty good job at the moment with very little help from members opposite, because they did not put any money into that area. Let me assure the member for Girrawheen that she will go a long way to find a more committed Minister for Road Safety than I am anywhere in Australia. I am absolutely 100 per cent committed to road safety, and most members in this house know of my commitment.
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