❓ Question regarding a driver's license issued to an individual despite a court-imposed suspension, revealing a communication breakdown between the courts and the Department of Transport. The Minister investigated and addressed the issue, retrieving the invalid license and initiating a review of processes.
AnsweredQoN 554Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
DRIVERS'
LICENCES — COURT SUSPENSIONS
554. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS to the
Minister for Transport:
I refer to the
minister's inability to answer my questions yesterday, despite the item
having been on TV news and questions having already been asked of his
department and copied to his personal media adviser, and I note the minister's
undertaking to answer those questions.
(1) Why was the
licence issued despite the court suspending Mr Libri's licence for four
years?
(2) Did Mr Libri
reapply for this licence while in jail?
(3) Does the minister's department
have systems in place to note court-imposed suspensions or does it rely on an
honour system?
(4) What does the minister say to the victim's
mother who asked how many others had been issued with drivers' licences
despite having their licences suspended by a court?
LICENCES — COURT SUSPENSIONS
554. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS to the
Minister for Transport:
I refer to the
minister's inability to answer my questions yesterday, despite the item
having been on TV news and questions having already been asked of his
department and copied to his personal media adviser, and I note the minister's
undertaking to answer those questions.
(1) Why was the
licence issued despite the court suspending Mr Libri's licence for four
years?
(2) Did Mr Libri
reapply for this licence while in jail?
(3) Does the minister's department
have systems in place to note court-imposed suspensions or does it rely on an
honour system?
(4) What does the minister say to the victim's
mother who asked how many others had been issued with drivers' licences
despite having their licences suspended by a court?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(4) I did
suggest to the member that the question be put on notice and that I would get
the information.
Several members
interjected.
Mr D.C. NALDER : Have a look at Hansard .
Several members
interjected.
The SPEAKER : The minister is going to answer the question.
Mr D.C. NALDER : I was concerned about the circumstances
surrounding this issue. I sought an immediate understanding of what had
occurred and I would like to share that today. I investigated the issue
immediately. The Department of Transport was not aware of this person's
suspension, so there was a breakdown in communication from the courts to the
Department of Transport.
The department was
notified on 6 August of the suspension and of this person potentially having a
licence, and it immediately investigated. At 1.00 pm on 6 August, the same day,
a Department of Transport officer personally served Mr Libri a notice informing
him that the driver's licence card obtained on 13 March was not valid
due to his current court-imposed disqualification. The person concerned
returned the driver's licence card to the officer immediately.
Subsequently, the Department of Transport followed up around the process,
seeking an immediate response to ensure that the court investigate whether
further examples of this situation may have slipped through. We want to make sure
that this situation does not occur again.
suggest to the member that the question be put on notice and that I would get
the information.
Several members
interjected.
Mr D.C. NALDER : Have a look at Hansard .
Several members
interjected.
The SPEAKER : The minister is going to answer the question.
Mr D.C. NALDER : I was concerned about the circumstances
surrounding this issue. I sought an immediate understanding of what had
occurred and I would like to share that today. I investigated the issue
immediately. The Department of Transport was not aware of this person's
suspension, so there was a breakdown in communication from the courts to the
Department of Transport.
The department was
notified on 6 August of the suspension and of this person potentially having a
licence, and it immediately investigated. At 1.00 pm on 6 August, the same day,
a Department of Transport officer personally served Mr Libri a notice informing
him that the driver's licence card obtained on 13 March was not valid
due to his current court-imposed disqualification. The person concerned
returned the driver's licence card to the officer immediately.
Subsequently, the Department of Transport followed up around the process,
seeking an immediate response to ensure that the court investigate whether
further examples of this situation may have slipped through. We want to make sure
that this situation does not occur again.
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