❓ A parliamentary question regarding the safety of late-night sittings and their potential contribution to driver fatigue, given the Minister's public statements on the dangers of fatigue-related accidents. The Minister deflects, accusing the opposition of hypocrisy and highlighting cab charge availability for staff.
AnsweredQoN 648Legislative Assembly
Asked
16 April 2003
Member
QuestionView source ↗
I refer the minister to the special four-page Easter road safety lift-out in today’s The West Australian dealing with the dangers of driver fatigue, in which it states that - DRIVING when you’ve been awake for 17 to 18 hours is the same as driving with a blood-alcohol level of 0.05 per cent. I ask - (1) Does the minister believe it was safe to force members of Parliament - A government member interjected. Ms K. HODSON-THOMAS: This is an important question; if the member is not interested, he should get out of the House. The question continues - and parliamentary staff to sit from 2.00 pm yesterday until 3.39 am this morning, at which time many members and staff had obviously been awake for more than 17 hours, if not well over 20 hours? (2) How does the minister reconcile her media statement of 12 March 2003 in which she stated that “driver fatigue is the ‘hidden killer’ on Western Australian roads, causing up to a third of all crashes throughout the State”, and “Night shift workers are six times more likely to have a car crash than day workers” with the dangers of late-night parliamentary sittings? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) I appreciate the opportunity to say something about road safety at this important time. Today I launched the Easter road campaign and I warn all members that from midnight tonight they run the risk of incurring double demerit points if they speed, drink and drive or are not wearing seatbelts. Members cannot say they were not warned. The member for Carine’s question is a nonsense. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: She should have made some inquiries before opening her mouth and suggesting things that are not true. For many years it has been policy for staff to use a Cabcharge voucher to take a cab home after 9.00 pm. No staff member at Parliament House is forced to drive home at that time. In fact, nobody is forced to drive home; everybody can get a cab. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: There is no issue here. This question, as does every other question asked today, shows the Opposition’s blatant hypocrisy. Members opposite should remember the industrial relations debate when this House sat until 3.30 am and until some time after breakfast in the morning and consider what a bunch of hypocrites they are.
(1) Does the minister believe it was safe to force members of Parliament - A government member interjected. Ms K. HODSON-THOMAS: This is an important question; if the member is not interested, he should get out of the House. The question continues - and parliamentary staff to sit from 2.00 pm yesterday until 3.39 am this morning, at which time many members and staff had obviously been awake for more than 17 hours, if not well over 20 hours? (2) How does the minister reconcile her media statement of 12 March 2003 in which she stated that “driver fatigue is the ‘hidden killer’ on Western Australian roads, causing up to a third of all crashes throughout the State”, and “Night shift workers are six times more likely to have a car crash than day workers” with the dangers of late-night parliamentary sittings? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(2) I appreciate the opportunity to say something about road safety at this important time. Today I launched the Easter road campaign and I warn all members that from midnight tonight they run the risk of incurring double demerit points if they speed, drink and drive or are not wearing seatbelts. Members cannot say they were not warned. The member for Carine’s question is a nonsense. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: She should have made some inquiries before opening her mouth and suggesting things that are not true. For many years it has been policy for staff to use a Cabcharge voucher to take a cab home after 9.00 pm. No staff member at Parliament House is forced to drive home at that time. In fact, nobody is forced to drive home; everybody can get a cab. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: There is no issue here. This question, as does every other question asked today, shows the Opposition’s blatant hypocrisy. Members opposite should remember the industrial relations debate when this House sat until 3.30 am and until some time after breakfast in the morning and consider what a bunch of hypocrites they are.
A government member interjected. Ms K. HODSON-THOMAS: This is an important question; if the member is not interested, he should get out of the House. The question continues - and parliamentary staff to sit from 2.00 pm yesterday until 3.39 am this morning, at which time many members and staff had obviously been awake for more than 17 hours, if not well over 20 hours? (2) How does the minister reconcile her media statement of 12 March 2003 in which she stated that “driver fatigue is the ‘hidden killer’ on Western Australian roads, causing up to a third of all crashes throughout the State”, and “Night shift workers are six times more likely to have a car crash than day workers” with the dangers of late-night parliamentary sittings? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(2) I appreciate the opportunity to say something about road safety at this important time. Today I launched the Easter road campaign and I warn all members that from midnight tonight they run the risk of incurring double demerit points if they speed, drink and drive or are not wearing seatbelts. Members cannot say they were not warned. The member for Carine’s question is a nonsense. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: She should have made some inquiries before opening her mouth and suggesting things that are not true. For many years it has been policy for staff to use a Cabcharge voucher to take a cab home after 9.00 pm. No staff member at Parliament House is forced to drive home at that time. In fact, nobody is forced to drive home; everybody can get a cab. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: There is no issue here. This question, as does every other question asked today, shows the Opposition’s blatant hypocrisy. Members opposite should remember the industrial relations debate when this House sat until 3.30 am and until some time after breakfast in the morning and consider what a bunch of hypocrites they are.
Ms K. HODSON-THOMAS: This is an important question; if the member is not interested, he should get out of the House. The question continues - and parliamentary staff to sit from 2.00 pm yesterday until 3.39 am this morning, at which time many members and staff had obviously been awake for more than 17 hours, if not well over 20 hours? (2) How does the minister reconcile her media statement of 12 March 2003 in which she stated that “driver fatigue is the ‘hidden killer’ on Western Australian roads, causing up to a third of all crashes throughout the State”, and “Night shift workers are six times more likely to have a car crash than day workers” with the dangers of late-night parliamentary sittings? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(2) I appreciate the opportunity to say something about road safety at this important time. Today I launched the Easter road campaign and I warn all members that from midnight tonight they run the risk of incurring double demerit points if they speed, drink and drive or are not wearing seatbelts. Members cannot say they were not warned. The member for Carine’s question is a nonsense. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: She should have made some inquiries before opening her mouth and suggesting things that are not true. For many years it has been policy for staff to use a Cabcharge voucher to take a cab home after 9.00 pm. No staff member at Parliament House is forced to drive home at that time. In fact, nobody is forced to drive home; everybody can get a cab. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: There is no issue here. This question, as does every other question asked today, shows the Opposition’s blatant hypocrisy. Members opposite should remember the industrial relations debate when this House sat until 3.30 am and until some time after breakfast in the morning and consider what a bunch of hypocrites they are.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(2) I appreciate the opportunity to say something about road safety at this important time. Today I launched the Easter road campaign and I warn all members that from midnight tonight they run the risk of incurring double demerit points if they speed, drink and drive or are not wearing seatbelts. Members cannot say they were not warned. The member for Carine’s question is a nonsense. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: She should have made some inquiries before opening her mouth and suggesting things that are not true. For many years it has been policy for staff to use a Cabcharge voucher to take a cab home after 9.00 pm. No staff member at Parliament House is forced to drive home at that time. In fact, nobody is forced to drive home; everybody can get a cab. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: There is no issue here. This question, as does every other question asked today, shows the Opposition’s blatant hypocrisy. Members opposite should remember the industrial relations debate when this House sat until 3.30 am and until some time after breakfast in the morning and consider what a bunch of hypocrites they are.
(1)-(2) I appreciate the opportunity to say something about road safety at this important time. Today I launched the Easter road campaign and I warn all members that from midnight tonight they run the risk of incurring double demerit points if they speed, drink and drive or are not wearing seatbelts. Members cannot say they were not warned. The member for Carine’s question is a nonsense. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: She should have made some inquiries before opening her mouth and suggesting things that are not true. For many years it has been policy for staff to use a Cabcharge voucher to take a cab home after 9.00 pm. No staff member at Parliament House is forced to drive home at that time. In fact, nobody is forced to drive home; everybody can get a cab. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: There is no issue here. This question, as does every other question asked today, shows the Opposition’s blatant hypocrisy. Members opposite should remember the industrial relations debate when this House sat until 3.30 am and until some time after breakfast in the morning and consider what a bunch of hypocrites they are.
The member for Carine’s question is a nonsense. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: She should have made some inquiries before opening her mouth and suggesting things that are not true. For many years it has been policy for staff to use a Cabcharge voucher to take a cab home after 9.00 pm. No staff member at Parliament House is forced to drive home at that time. In fact, nobody is forced to drive home; everybody can get a cab. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: There is no issue here. This question, as does every other question asked today, shows the Opposition’s blatant hypocrisy. Members opposite should remember the industrial relations debate when this House sat until 3.30 am and until some time after breakfast in the morning and consider what a bunch of hypocrites they are.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: She should have made some inquiries before opening her mouth and suggesting things that are not true. For many years it has been policy for staff to use a Cabcharge voucher to take a cab home after 9.00 pm. No staff member at Parliament House is forced to drive home at that time. In fact, nobody is forced to drive home; everybody can get a cab. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: There is no issue here. This question, as does every other question asked today, shows the Opposition’s blatant hypocrisy. Members opposite should remember the industrial relations debate when this House sat until 3.30 am and until some time after breakfast in the morning and consider what a bunch of hypocrites they are.
The SPEAKER: Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: She should have made some inquiries before opening her mouth and suggesting things that are not true. For many years it has been policy for staff to use a Cabcharge voucher to take a cab home after 9.00 pm. No staff member at Parliament House is forced to drive home at that time. In fact, nobody is forced to drive home; everybody can get a cab. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: There is no issue here. This question, as does every other question asked today, shows the Opposition’s blatant hypocrisy. Members opposite should remember the industrial relations debate when this House sat until 3.30 am and until some time after breakfast in the morning and consider what a bunch of hypocrites they are.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: She should have made some inquiries before opening her mouth and suggesting things that are not true. For many years it has been policy for staff to use a Cabcharge voucher to take a cab home after 9.00 pm. No staff member at Parliament House is forced to drive home at that time. In fact, nobody is forced to drive home; everybody can get a cab. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: There is no issue here. This question, as does every other question asked today, shows the Opposition’s blatant hypocrisy. Members opposite should remember the industrial relations debate when this House sat until 3.30 am and until some time after breakfast in the morning and consider what a bunch of hypocrites they are.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: There is no issue here. This question, as does every other question asked today, shows the Opposition’s blatant hypocrisy. Members opposite should remember the industrial relations debate when this House sat until 3.30 am and until some time after breakfast in the morning and consider what a bunch of hypocrites they are.
The SPEAKER: Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: There is no issue here. This question, as does every other question asked today, shows the Opposition’s blatant hypocrisy. Members opposite should remember the industrial relations debate when this House sat until 3.30 am and until some time after breakfast in the morning and consider what a bunch of hypocrites they are.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: There is no issue here. This question, as does every other question asked today, shows the Opposition’s blatant hypocrisy. Members opposite should remember the industrial relations debate when this House sat until 3.30 am and until some time after breakfast in the morning and consider what a bunch of hypocrites they are.
(1) Does the minister believe it was safe to force members of Parliament - A government member interjected. Ms K. HODSON-THOMAS: This is an important question; if the member is not interested, he should get out of the House. The question continues - and parliamentary staff to sit from 2.00 pm yesterday until 3.39 am this morning, at which time many members and staff had obviously been awake for more than 17 hours, if not well over 20 hours? (2) How does the minister reconcile her media statement of 12 March 2003 in which she stated that “driver fatigue is the ‘hidden killer’ on Western Australian roads, causing up to a third of all crashes throughout the State”, and “Night shift workers are six times more likely to have a car crash than day workers” with the dangers of late-night parliamentary sittings? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(2) I appreciate the opportunity to say something about road safety at this important time. Today I launched the Easter road campaign and I warn all members that from midnight tonight they run the risk of incurring double demerit points if they speed, drink and drive or are not wearing seatbelts. Members cannot say they were not warned. The member for Carine’s question is a nonsense. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: She should have made some inquiries before opening her mouth and suggesting things that are not true. For many years it has been policy for staff to use a Cabcharge voucher to take a cab home after 9.00 pm. No staff member at Parliament House is forced to drive home at that time. In fact, nobody is forced to drive home; everybody can get a cab. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: There is no issue here. This question, as does every other question asked today, shows the Opposition’s blatant hypocrisy. Members opposite should remember the industrial relations debate when this House sat until 3.30 am and until some time after breakfast in the morning and consider what a bunch of hypocrites they are.
A government member interjected. Ms K. HODSON-THOMAS: This is an important question; if the member is not interested, he should get out of the House. The question continues - and parliamentary staff to sit from 2.00 pm yesterday until 3.39 am this morning, at which time many members and staff had obviously been awake for more than 17 hours, if not well over 20 hours? (2) How does the minister reconcile her media statement of 12 March 2003 in which she stated that “driver fatigue is the ‘hidden killer’ on Western Australian roads, causing up to a third of all crashes throughout the State”, and “Night shift workers are six times more likely to have a car crash than day workers” with the dangers of late-night parliamentary sittings? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(2) I appreciate the opportunity to say something about road safety at this important time. Today I launched the Easter road campaign and I warn all members that from midnight tonight they run the risk of incurring double demerit points if they speed, drink and drive or are not wearing seatbelts. Members cannot say they were not warned. The member for Carine’s question is a nonsense. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: She should have made some inquiries before opening her mouth and suggesting things that are not true. For many years it has been policy for staff to use a Cabcharge voucher to take a cab home after 9.00 pm. No staff member at Parliament House is forced to drive home at that time. In fact, nobody is forced to drive home; everybody can get a cab. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: There is no issue here. This question, as does every other question asked today, shows the Opposition’s blatant hypocrisy. Members opposite should remember the industrial relations debate when this House sat until 3.30 am and until some time after breakfast in the morning and consider what a bunch of hypocrites they are.
Ms K. HODSON-THOMAS: This is an important question; if the member is not interested, he should get out of the House. The question continues - and parliamentary staff to sit from 2.00 pm yesterday until 3.39 am this morning, at which time many members and staff had obviously been awake for more than 17 hours, if not well over 20 hours? (2) How does the minister reconcile her media statement of 12 March 2003 in which she stated that “driver fatigue is the ‘hidden killer’ on Western Australian roads, causing up to a third of all crashes throughout the State”, and “Night shift workers are six times more likely to have a car crash than day workers” with the dangers of late-night parliamentary sittings? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(2) I appreciate the opportunity to say something about road safety at this important time. Today I launched the Easter road campaign and I warn all members that from midnight tonight they run the risk of incurring double demerit points if they speed, drink and drive or are not wearing seatbelts. Members cannot say they were not warned. The member for Carine’s question is a nonsense. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: She should have made some inquiries before opening her mouth and suggesting things that are not true. For many years it has been policy for staff to use a Cabcharge voucher to take a cab home after 9.00 pm. No staff member at Parliament House is forced to drive home at that time. In fact, nobody is forced to drive home; everybody can get a cab. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: There is no issue here. This question, as does every other question asked today, shows the Opposition’s blatant hypocrisy. Members opposite should remember the industrial relations debate when this House sat until 3.30 am and until some time after breakfast in the morning and consider what a bunch of hypocrites they are.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(2) I appreciate the opportunity to say something about road safety at this important time. Today I launched the Easter road campaign and I warn all members that from midnight tonight they run the risk of incurring double demerit points if they speed, drink and drive or are not wearing seatbelts. Members cannot say they were not warned. The member for Carine’s question is a nonsense. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: She should have made some inquiries before opening her mouth and suggesting things that are not true. For many years it has been policy for staff to use a Cabcharge voucher to take a cab home after 9.00 pm. No staff member at Parliament House is forced to drive home at that time. In fact, nobody is forced to drive home; everybody can get a cab. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: There is no issue here. This question, as does every other question asked today, shows the Opposition’s blatant hypocrisy. Members opposite should remember the industrial relations debate when this House sat until 3.30 am and until some time after breakfast in the morning and consider what a bunch of hypocrites they are.
(1)-(2) I appreciate the opportunity to say something about road safety at this important time. Today I launched the Easter road campaign and I warn all members that from midnight tonight they run the risk of incurring double demerit points if they speed, drink and drive or are not wearing seatbelts. Members cannot say they were not warned. The member for Carine’s question is a nonsense. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: She should have made some inquiries before opening her mouth and suggesting things that are not true. For many years it has been policy for staff to use a Cabcharge voucher to take a cab home after 9.00 pm. No staff member at Parliament House is forced to drive home at that time. In fact, nobody is forced to drive home; everybody can get a cab. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: There is no issue here. This question, as does every other question asked today, shows the Opposition’s blatant hypocrisy. Members opposite should remember the industrial relations debate when this House sat until 3.30 am and until some time after breakfast in the morning and consider what a bunch of hypocrites they are.
The member for Carine’s question is a nonsense. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: She should have made some inquiries before opening her mouth and suggesting things that are not true. For many years it has been policy for staff to use a Cabcharge voucher to take a cab home after 9.00 pm. No staff member at Parliament House is forced to drive home at that time. In fact, nobody is forced to drive home; everybody can get a cab. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: There is no issue here. This question, as does every other question asked today, shows the Opposition’s blatant hypocrisy. Members opposite should remember the industrial relations debate when this House sat until 3.30 am and until some time after breakfast in the morning and consider what a bunch of hypocrites they are.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: She should have made some inquiries before opening her mouth and suggesting things that are not true. For many years it has been policy for staff to use a Cabcharge voucher to take a cab home after 9.00 pm. No staff member at Parliament House is forced to drive home at that time. In fact, nobody is forced to drive home; everybody can get a cab. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: There is no issue here. This question, as does every other question asked today, shows the Opposition’s blatant hypocrisy. Members opposite should remember the industrial relations debate when this House sat until 3.30 am and until some time after breakfast in the morning and consider what a bunch of hypocrites they are.
The SPEAKER: Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: She should have made some inquiries before opening her mouth and suggesting things that are not true. For many years it has been policy for staff to use a Cabcharge voucher to take a cab home after 9.00 pm. No staff member at Parliament House is forced to drive home at that time. In fact, nobody is forced to drive home; everybody can get a cab. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: There is no issue here. This question, as does every other question asked today, shows the Opposition’s blatant hypocrisy. Members opposite should remember the industrial relations debate when this House sat until 3.30 am and until some time after breakfast in the morning and consider what a bunch of hypocrites they are.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: She should have made some inquiries before opening her mouth and suggesting things that are not true. For many years it has been policy for staff to use a Cabcharge voucher to take a cab home after 9.00 pm. No staff member at Parliament House is forced to drive home at that time. In fact, nobody is forced to drive home; everybody can get a cab. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: There is no issue here. This question, as does every other question asked today, shows the Opposition’s blatant hypocrisy. Members opposite should remember the industrial relations debate when this House sat until 3.30 am and until some time after breakfast in the morning and consider what a bunch of hypocrites they are.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: There is no issue here. This question, as does every other question asked today, shows the Opposition’s blatant hypocrisy. Members opposite should remember the industrial relations debate when this House sat until 3.30 am and until some time after breakfast in the morning and consider what a bunch of hypocrites they are.
The SPEAKER: Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: There is no issue here. This question, as does every other question asked today, shows the Opposition’s blatant hypocrisy. Members opposite should remember the industrial relations debate when this House sat until 3.30 am and until some time after breakfast in the morning and consider what a bunch of hypocrites they are.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: There is no issue here. This question, as does every other question asked today, shows the Opposition’s blatant hypocrisy. Members opposite should remember the industrial relations debate when this House sat until 3.30 am and until some time after breakfast in the morning and consider what a bunch of hypocrites they are.
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