❓ Mr. Katsambanis questions the Minister for Public Sector Management about the lack of a permanent Road Safety Commissioner amidst rising road deaths. The Minister accuses the opposition of politicising the issue and defends the current acting commissioner.
AnsweredQoN 545Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ROAD SAFETY COMMISSIONER — APPOINTMENT
545. Mr P.A. KATSAMBANIS to the Minister for Public Sector
Management:
I note that the minister has failed to appoint a permanent
Road Safety Commissioner for two years. Is the minister aware that the number
of deaths on Western Australian roads this year to date is the highest in a decade
and, as a priority, will he appoint a permanent Road Safety Commissioner to
give the commission proper leadership and direction on this important matter?
545. Mr P.A. KATSAMBANIS to the Minister for Public Sector
Management:
I note that the minister has failed to appoint a permanent
Road Safety Commissioner for two years. Is the minister aware that the number
of deaths on Western Australian roads this year to date is the highest in a decade
and, as a priority, will he appoint a permanent Road Safety Commissioner to
give the commission proper leadership and direction on this important matter?
AnswerView source ↗
My advice to the member for Hillarys is to not politicise
deaths on our roads.
Mr P.A. Katsambanis : Is that your answer?
Mr M. McGOWAN : No; listen to me. The rate of deaths
and injuries on our roads goes up and down each year.
Mrs L.M. Harvey interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition!
Mr M. McGOWAN : Please stop interjecting on me.
Mrs L.M. Harvey interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Please stop interjecting. We are
dealing with road deaths.
My advice to the opposition is to not politicise this issue.
The number of deaths on our roads —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr M. McGOWAN : The number of deaths on our roads goes
up in some months and years and down in some months and years.
Mrs L.M. Harvey interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I call you to
order for the first time.
Mrs L.M. Harvey interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I call you to
order for the second time.
Mrs L.M. Harvey interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : These are deaths on our roads; please
stop interjecting on me.
They go up some years and down some years. The general trend
across time has been that they have gone down because of improvements in road
safety, vehicles, roads, education campaigns and the like, despite population
growth. That has been the general trend. In some years the figures are up on
the year before and in subsequent years they may well go down. That has
occurred across every government. I think all members of Parliament care about
the road toll and would like to see it decline over time irrespective of which
side of the house they sit. From recollection, the Road Safety Commissioner is
Mr Iain Cameron.
Mr P.A. Katsambanis : No, he's not.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Please.
Mr P.A. Katsambanis : But he's not the Road Safety
Commissioner.
The SPEAKER : You have the opportunity for a supplementary
question.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Please, do not politicise deaths on our
roads. Mr Iain Cameron is doing a good job.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr M. McGOWAN : I ask the member to stop with this very
offensive line of questioning.
deaths on our roads.
Mr P.A. Katsambanis : Is that your answer?
Mr M. McGOWAN : No; listen to me. The rate of deaths
and injuries on our roads goes up and down each year.
Mrs L.M. Harvey interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition!
Mr M. McGOWAN : Please stop interjecting on me.
Mrs L.M. Harvey interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Please stop interjecting. We are
dealing with road deaths.
My advice to the opposition is to not politicise this issue.
The number of deaths on our roads —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr M. McGOWAN : The number of deaths on our roads goes
up in some months and years and down in some months and years.
Mrs L.M. Harvey interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I call you to
order for the first time.
Mrs L.M. Harvey interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I call you to
order for the second time.
Mrs L.M. Harvey interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : These are deaths on our roads; please
stop interjecting on me.
They go up some years and down some years. The general trend
across time has been that they have gone down because of improvements in road
safety, vehicles, roads, education campaigns and the like, despite population
growth. That has been the general trend. In some years the figures are up on
the year before and in subsequent years they may well go down. That has
occurred across every government. I think all members of Parliament care about
the road toll and would like to see it decline over time irrespective of which
side of the house they sit. From recollection, the Road Safety Commissioner is
Mr Iain Cameron.
Mr P.A. Katsambanis : No, he's not.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Please.
Mr P.A. Katsambanis : But he's not the Road Safety
Commissioner.
The SPEAKER : You have the opportunity for a supplementary
question.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Please, do not politicise deaths on our
roads. Mr Iain Cameron is doing a good job.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr M. McGOWAN : I ask the member to stop with this very
offensive line of questioning.
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