❓ Ms. Warr questions the Premier about the rising road toll despite his promises and investments. The Premier defends the government's record spending and initiatives on road safety, highlighting various programs and investments.
AnsweredQoN 401Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Road safety401.Ms Kirrilee Warrto
the Premier:It has now been more
than a year since the Premier's highly publicised road safety forum at which he
promised to do whatever it takes to save lives on the roads, yet 2025 has
delivered the worst year-to-date road toll on record while millions are
mounting up in the Road Trauma Trust Account.(1) Will the Premier guarantee that he has done
everything to invest in road safety?(2) When will the government implement sensible
solutions put forward by the opposition, including the establishment of a
life-saving Mid West rescue helicopter, permanently staging AI camera
technology in the regions and boosting police presence on country roads?
the Premier:It has now been more
than a year since the Premier's highly publicised road safety forum at which he
promised to do whatever it takes to save lives on the roads, yet 2025 has
delivered the worst year-to-date road toll on record while millions are
mounting up in the Road Trauma Trust Account.(1) Will the Premier guarantee that he has done
everything to invest in road safety?(2) When will the government implement sensible
solutions put forward by the opposition, including the establishment of a
life-saving Mid West rescue helicopter, permanently staging AI camera
technology in the regions and boosting police presence on country roads?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
9 September 2025
Response time
0 days
Mr Roger Cook replied:(1)–(2) I thank the member for the
question. Of course, she is correct; it is a matter of public record that we
have spent a record amount on road safety, particularly through our billion-dollar
project to upgrade road safety across 10,000 kilometres of roads throughout the
state. That is about continuing to widen and strengthen the road shoulders and
install audible edging and, of course, audible central lines. That is an
important part of continuing to make sure that we do our part for road safety.
I am very proud of the fact that we are now moving on to high-speed local
government roads. A team is working in conjunction with the Western Australian
Local Government Association to identify the high-priority projects as we now
start to roll out the next phase of that important program.After the round table that the
member mentioned, more than $32.5 million for more regional road safety
initiatives was announced, including for road safety treatments, new breath and
drug testing buses in regional areas and increased police traffic enforcement
in regional areas, plus high-visibility police cars and improved traffic-data
gathering. An additional investment has also been made in the recent budget,
including $125 million to expand the regional road safety program, which I
mentioned earlier; $17.5 million on new signalised pedestrian crossings,
including the replacement of 19 current warden-controlled school crossings
around the state; $22 million for a hooning package to catch and deter hoons on
our roads; and a commitment of $15.4 million towards establishing the state's
dedicated heavy vehicle driver training facility.In response to the concerns at
the round table, a bill known as "Tom's Law" passed seven days after
it was introduced into Parliament in November. Under the new regulations, red P-plate
drivers are now limited to carrying only one passenger in their vehicle at all
times.Another safety initiative is
that there will be a step change in road statistics across the state in our
safety camera program. Our state-of-the-art safety cameras, including cameras
on the Kwinana Freeway, will be issuing fines from 8 October. Many people have
seen just how important this new technology is in terms of our vigilance around
road safety. Of our six safety camera trailers, two are based in Albany and
rotate around the Great Southern and South West, and two are based in Geraldton
and are deployed across the Mid West and northern Wheatbelt. The safety cameras
are capable of detecting drivers and front-seat passengers either not wearing
or incorrectly wearing a seatbelt; illegal mobile phone use, which includes
holding or resting a phone on a person's body, including in their lap; and
speeding.We are also embarking on
important road safety campaigns such as the "Red plate. One mate" program;
the drink driving "Not worth the (beep) risk" campaign; the "Speeding
shatters your excuses" campaign; the "Be a Wheelmate leavers campaign;
the seatbelt "just click" and stay safe campaign; and the "Anyone
can save a life—15 minutes is all it takes" first-aid training
campaign. Of course, we are doing important work around our new five-year, $5 million
investment in road safety research that will focus on driver behaviour and
culture, particularly amongst young drivers.I
also want to commend theShire of
Augusta–Margaret Riverand the RAC for conducting the current program
looking at how reduced speed limits can improve road safety. TheShire of Augusta–Margaret Riveris
working with the RAC to trial a whole range of reduced road speed areas. That
will provide us with a three-year deep insight. That data will continue to
inform us on how we can continue to keep people safe and the role speed plays
in road safety. I am very much looking forward to seeing the results of that
campaign.
Road safety
question. Of course, she is correct; it is a matter of public record that we
have spent a record amount on road safety, particularly through our billion-dollar
project to upgrade road safety across 10,000 kilometres of roads throughout the
state. That is about continuing to widen and strengthen the road shoulders and
install audible edging and, of course, audible central lines. That is an
important part of continuing to make sure that we do our part for road safety.
I am very proud of the fact that we are now moving on to high-speed local
government roads. A team is working in conjunction with the Western Australian
Local Government Association to identify the high-priority projects as we now
start to roll out the next phase of that important program.After the round table that the
member mentioned, more than $32.5 million for more regional road safety
initiatives was announced, including for road safety treatments, new breath and
drug testing buses in regional areas and increased police traffic enforcement
in regional areas, plus high-visibility police cars and improved traffic-data
gathering. An additional investment has also been made in the recent budget,
including $125 million to expand the regional road safety program, which I
mentioned earlier; $17.5 million on new signalised pedestrian crossings,
including the replacement of 19 current warden-controlled school crossings
around the state; $22 million for a hooning package to catch and deter hoons on
our roads; and a commitment of $15.4 million towards establishing the state's
dedicated heavy vehicle driver training facility.In response to the concerns at
the round table, a bill known as "Tom's Law" passed seven days after
it was introduced into Parliament in November. Under the new regulations, red P-plate
drivers are now limited to carrying only one passenger in their vehicle at all
times.Another safety initiative is
that there will be a step change in road statistics across the state in our
safety camera program. Our state-of-the-art safety cameras, including cameras
on the Kwinana Freeway, will be issuing fines from 8 October. Many people have
seen just how important this new technology is in terms of our vigilance around
road safety. Of our six safety camera trailers, two are based in Albany and
rotate around the Great Southern and South West, and two are based in Geraldton
and are deployed across the Mid West and northern Wheatbelt. The safety cameras
are capable of detecting drivers and front-seat passengers either not wearing
or incorrectly wearing a seatbelt; illegal mobile phone use, which includes
holding or resting a phone on a person's body, including in their lap; and
speeding.We are also embarking on
important road safety campaigns such as the "Red plate. One mate" program;
the drink driving "Not worth the (beep) risk" campaign; the "Speeding
shatters your excuses" campaign; the "Be a Wheelmate leavers campaign;
the seatbelt "just click" and stay safe campaign; and the "Anyone
can save a life—15 minutes is all it takes" first-aid training
campaign. Of course, we are doing important work around our new five-year, $5 million
investment in road safety research that will focus on driver behaviour and
culture, particularly amongst young drivers.I
also want to commend theShire of
Augusta–Margaret Riverand the RAC for conducting the current program
looking at how reduced speed limits can improve road safety. TheShire of Augusta–Margaret Riveris
working with the RAC to trial a whole range of reduced road speed areas. That
will provide us with a three-year deep insight. That data will continue to
inform us on how we can continue to keep people safe and the role speed plays
in road safety. I am very much looking forward to seeing the results of that
campaign.
Road safety
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.