❓ A parliamentary question regarding elevated work platform safety regulations in orchards, highlighting collaboration between WorkSafe, the industry, and various political figures. The Minister's response devolves into a political argument about transport fatigue regulations.
AnsweredQoN 950Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Is the minister aware of the article in the Donnybrook-Bridgetown Mail of 12 August 2003 concerning elevated work platform safety regulations, which quotes the president of the Western Australian Fruit Growers Association, Mr Steve Dilley, as saying, “We have been really impressed with Worksafe and a number of people in the industry who put a lot of time and effort in to achieving this result”? Mr J.C. KOBELKE
AnswerView source ↗
It is very pleasing that we should end up with such a good result. There was an issue with elevated work platforms in orchards. Western Australia had a lower standard and there was the real potential for people to be injured or killed: the orchardists themselves, their families or their workers. The member for Roleystone became involved in the issue and played a very active role in making sure that it was addressed. Mr M.W. Trenorden: What about the National Party? Mr J.C. KOBELKE: The Leader of the National Party also approached me with concerns. The industry worked with WorkSafe, WorkSafe listened to its concerns, the matter was carried through, and we now have an outcome that the industry considers to be good for it, because it wanted to make sure that its equipment was up to standard and that there was safety in the industry. It is a real win-win situation. Mr P.D. Omodei: Thanks to Brian Bradley, not to you. Mr J.C. KOBELKE: I will dismiss that comment, because it does not relate to the truth of the matter. Perhaps the Liberal member might like to take up this issue with his colleagues in the other place. When it comes to fatigue in the transport industry and deaths on our roads or serious injury to drivers and other road users, the Liberal Party in the other place is seeking to disallow this State’s fatigue regulations. That is absolutely ridiculous. Mr M.W. Trenorden: And the National Party as well. Mr J.C. KOBELKE: And the National Party as well. I thought the member might have thought a bit more clearly about this matter. Fatigue in the transport industry is an issue that the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure took up in opposition with real gusto, because she saw this was a problem. Right across Australia the transport industry was moving with the times and saying that it needed to do things better. The former Liberal Government got onto the bandwagon half-heartedly and started the ball rolling. It was the current Minister for Planning and Infrastructure who, prior to the election, made a commitment to tough legislation that would be enforceable and, more importantly, that a Labor Government would spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to make the system work and to police it. The Government has followed through and delivered on that promise. Two and a half years later inspectors are out there and the code is in place to maintain standards. Those standards are not the toughest in Australia; they go to how much a driver can drive in a 24-hour period. Mr P.D. Omodei: What about elevated workplaces? Mr J.C. KOBELKE: Is the member saying that allowing a driver to drive for more than 17 hours in 24 hours is safe? That is what this member is saying. The Liberal Party wants to make it legal to drive for more than 17 hours in 24 hours. These people want deaths on our roads. They are quite happy to look after a minor sectional group and have people killed on our roads because they do not believe in setting standards. This Government will set standards. It believes in road safety. We have a rabble opposite that does not. We will make sure that people in Western Australia know the difference.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: It is very pleasing that we should end up with such a good result. There was an issue with elevated work platforms in orchards. Western Australia had a lower standard and there was the real potential for people to be injured or killed: the orchardists themselves, their families or their workers. The member for Roleystone became involved in the issue and played a very active role in making sure that it was addressed. Mr M.W. Trenorden: What about the National Party? Mr J.C. KOBELKE: The Leader of the National Party also approached me with concerns. The industry worked with WorkSafe, WorkSafe listened to its concerns, the matter was carried through, and we now have an outcome that the industry considers to be good for it, because it wanted to make sure that its equipment was up to standard and that there was safety in the industry. It is a real win-win situation. Mr P.D. Omodei: Thanks to Brian Bradley, not to you. Mr J.C. KOBELKE: I will dismiss that comment, because it does not relate to the truth of the matter. Perhaps the Liberal member might like to take up this issue with his colleagues in the other place. When it comes to fatigue in the transport industry and deaths on our roads or serious injury to drivers and other road users, the Liberal Party in the other place is seeking to disallow this State’s fatigue regulations. That is absolutely ridiculous. Mr M.W. Trenorden: And the National Party as well. Mr J.C. KOBELKE: And the National Party as well. I thought the member might have thought a bit more clearly about this matter. Fatigue in the transport industry is an issue that the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure took up in opposition with real gusto, because she saw this was a problem. Right across Australia the transport industry was moving with the times and saying that it needed to do things better. The former Liberal Government got onto the bandwagon half-heartedly and started the ball rolling. It was the current Minister for Planning and Infrastructure who, prior to the election, made a commitment to tough legislation that would be enforceable and, more importantly, that a Labor Government would spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to make the system work and to police it. The Government has followed through and delivered on that promise. Two and a half years later inspectors are out there and the code is in place to maintain standards. Those standards are not the toughest in Australia; they go to how much a driver can drive in a 24-hour period. Mr P.D. Omodei: What about elevated workplaces? Mr J.C. KOBELKE: Is the member saying that allowing a driver to drive for more than 17 hours in 24 hours is safe? That is what this member is saying. The Liberal Party wants to make it legal to drive for more than 17 hours in 24 hours. These people want deaths on our roads. They are quite happy to look after a minor sectional group and have people killed on our roads because they do not believe in setting standards. This Government will set standards. It believes in road safety. We have a rabble opposite that does not. We will make sure that people in Western Australia know the difference.
It is very pleasing that we should end up with such a good result. There was an issue with elevated work platforms in orchards. Western Australia had a lower standard and there was the real potential for people to be injured or killed: the orchardists themselves, their families or their workers. The member for Roleystone became involved in the issue and played a very active role in making sure that it was addressed. Mr M.W. Trenorden: What about the National Party? Mr J.C. KOBELKE: The Leader of the National Party also approached me with concerns. The industry worked with WorkSafe, WorkSafe listened to its concerns, the matter was carried through, and we now have an outcome that the industry considers to be good for it, because it wanted to make sure that its equipment was up to standard and that there was safety in the industry. It is a real win-win situation. Mr P.D. Omodei: Thanks to Brian Bradley, not to you. Mr J.C. KOBELKE: I will dismiss that comment, because it does not relate to the truth of the matter. Perhaps the Liberal member might like to take up this issue with his colleagues in the other place. When it comes to fatigue in the transport industry and deaths on our roads or serious injury to drivers and other road users, the Liberal Party in the other place is seeking to disallow this State’s fatigue regulations. That is absolutely ridiculous. Mr M.W. Trenorden: And the National Party as well. Mr J.C. KOBELKE: And the National Party as well. I thought the member might have thought a bit more clearly about this matter. Fatigue in the transport industry is an issue that the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure took up in opposition with real gusto, because she saw this was a problem. Right across Australia the transport industry was moving with the times and saying that it needed to do things better. The former Liberal Government got onto the bandwagon half-heartedly and started the ball rolling. It was the current Minister for Planning and Infrastructure who, prior to the election, made a commitment to tough legislation that would be enforceable and, more importantly, that a Labor Government would spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to make the system work and to police it. The Government has followed through and delivered on that promise. Two and a half years later inspectors are out there and the code is in place to maintain standards. Those standards are not the toughest in Australia; they go to how much a driver can drive in a 24-hour period. Mr P.D. Omodei: What about elevated workplaces? Mr J.C. KOBELKE: Is the member saying that allowing a driver to drive for more than 17 hours in 24 hours is safe? That is what this member is saying. The Liberal Party wants to make it legal to drive for more than 17 hours in 24 hours. These people want deaths on our roads. They are quite happy to look after a minor sectional group and have people killed on our roads because they do not believe in setting standards. This Government will set standards. It believes in road safety. We have a rabble opposite that does not. We will make sure that people in Western Australia know the difference.
Mr M.W. Trenorden: What about the National Party? Mr J.C. KOBELKE: The Leader of the National Party also approached me with concerns. The industry worked with WorkSafe, WorkSafe listened to its concerns, the matter was carried through, and we now have an outcome that the industry considers to be good for it, because it wanted to make sure that its equipment was up to standard and that there was safety in the industry. It is a real win-win situation. Mr P.D. Omodei: Thanks to Brian Bradley, not to you. Mr J.C. KOBELKE: I will dismiss that comment, because it does not relate to the truth of the matter. Perhaps the Liberal member might like to take up this issue with his colleagues in the other place. When it comes to fatigue in the transport industry and deaths on our roads or serious injury to drivers and other road users, the Liberal Party in the other place is seeking to disallow this State’s fatigue regulations. That is absolutely ridiculous. Mr M.W. Trenorden: And the National Party as well. Mr J.C. KOBELKE: And the National Party as well. I thought the member might have thought a bit more clearly about this matter. Fatigue in the transport industry is an issue that the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure took up in opposition with real gusto, because she saw this was a problem. Right across Australia the transport industry was moving with the times and saying that it needed to do things better. The former Liberal Government got onto the bandwagon half-heartedly and started the ball rolling. It was the current Minister for Planning and Infrastructure who, prior to the election, made a commitment to tough legislation that would be enforceable and, more importantly, that a Labor Government would spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to make the system work and to police it. The Government has followed through and delivered on that promise. Two and a half years later inspectors are out there and the code is in place to maintain standards. Those standards are not the toughest in Australia; they go to how much a driver can drive in a 24-hour period. Mr P.D. Omodei: What about elevated workplaces? Mr J.C. KOBELKE: Is the member saying that allowing a driver to drive for more than 17 hours in 24 hours is safe? That is what this member is saying. The Liberal Party wants to make it legal to drive for more than 17 hours in 24 hours. These people want deaths on our roads. They are quite happy to look after a minor sectional group and have people killed on our roads because they do not believe in setting standards. This Government will set standards. It believes in road safety. We have a rabble opposite that does not. We will make sure that people in Western Australia know the difference.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE: The Leader of the National Party also approached me with concerns. The industry worked with WorkSafe, WorkSafe listened to its concerns, the matter was carried through, and we now have an outcome that the industry considers to be good for it, because it wanted to make sure that its equipment was up to standard and that there was safety in the industry. It is a real win-win situation. Mr P.D. Omodei: Thanks to Brian Bradley, not to you. Mr J.C. KOBELKE: I will dismiss that comment, because it does not relate to the truth of the matter. Perhaps the Liberal member might like to take up this issue with his colleagues in the other place. When it comes to fatigue in the transport industry and deaths on our roads or serious injury to drivers and other road users, the Liberal Party in the other place is seeking to disallow this State’s fatigue regulations. That is absolutely ridiculous. Mr M.W. Trenorden: And the National Party as well. Mr J.C. KOBELKE: And the National Party as well. I thought the member might have thought a bit more clearly about this matter. Fatigue in the transport industry is an issue that the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure took up in opposition with real gusto, because she saw this was a problem. Right across Australia the transport industry was moving with the times and saying that it needed to do things better. The former Liberal Government got onto the bandwagon half-heartedly and started the ball rolling. It was the current Minister for Planning and Infrastructure who, prior to the election, made a commitment to tough legislation that would be enforceable and, more importantly, that a Labor Government would spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to make the system work and to police it. The Government has followed through and delivered on that promise. Two and a half years later inspectors are out there and the code is in place to maintain standards. Those standards are not the toughest in Australia; they go to how much a driver can drive in a 24-hour period. Mr P.D. Omodei: What about elevated workplaces? Mr J.C. KOBELKE: Is the member saying that allowing a driver to drive for more than 17 hours in 24 hours is safe? That is what this member is saying. The Liberal Party wants to make it legal to drive for more than 17 hours in 24 hours. These people want deaths on our roads. They are quite happy to look after a minor sectional group and have people killed on our roads because they do not believe in setting standards. This Government will set standards. It believes in road safety. We have a rabble opposite that does not. We will make sure that people in Western Australia know the difference.
Mr P.D. Omodei: Thanks to Brian Bradley, not to you. Mr J.C. KOBELKE: I will dismiss that comment, because it does not relate to the truth of the matter. Perhaps the Liberal member might like to take up this issue with his colleagues in the other place. When it comes to fatigue in the transport industry and deaths on our roads or serious injury to drivers and other road users, the Liberal Party in the other place is seeking to disallow this State’s fatigue regulations. That is absolutely ridiculous. Mr M.W. Trenorden: And the National Party as well. Mr J.C. KOBELKE: And the National Party as well. I thought the member might have thought a bit more clearly about this matter. Fatigue in the transport industry is an issue that the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure took up in opposition with real gusto, because she saw this was a problem. Right across Australia the transport industry was moving with the times and saying that it needed to do things better. The former Liberal Government got onto the bandwagon half-heartedly and started the ball rolling. It was the current Minister for Planning and Infrastructure who, prior to the election, made a commitment to tough legislation that would be enforceable and, more importantly, that a Labor Government would spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to make the system work and to police it. The Government has followed through and delivered on that promise. Two and a half years later inspectors are out there and the code is in place to maintain standards. Those standards are not the toughest in Australia; they go to how much a driver can drive in a 24-hour period. Mr P.D. Omodei: What about elevated workplaces? Mr J.C. KOBELKE: Is the member saying that allowing a driver to drive for more than 17 hours in 24 hours is safe? That is what this member is saying. The Liberal Party wants to make it legal to drive for more than 17 hours in 24 hours. These people want deaths on our roads. They are quite happy to look after a minor sectional group and have people killed on our roads because they do not believe in setting standards. This Government will set standards. It believes in road safety. We have a rabble opposite that does not. We will make sure that people in Western Australia know the difference.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE: I will dismiss that comment, because it does not relate to the truth of the matter. Perhaps the Liberal member might like to take up this issue with his colleagues in the other place. When it comes to fatigue in the transport industry and deaths on our roads or serious injury to drivers and other road users, the Liberal Party in the other place is seeking to disallow this State’s fatigue regulations. That is absolutely ridiculous. Mr M.W. Trenorden: And the National Party as well. Mr J.C. KOBELKE: And the National Party as well. I thought the member might have thought a bit more clearly about this matter. Fatigue in the transport industry is an issue that the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure took up in opposition with real gusto, because she saw this was a problem. Right across Australia the transport industry was moving with the times and saying that it needed to do things better. The former Liberal Government got onto the bandwagon half-heartedly and started the ball rolling. It was the current Minister for Planning and Infrastructure who, prior to the election, made a commitment to tough legislation that would be enforceable and, more importantly, that a Labor Government would spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to make the system work and to police it. The Government has followed through and delivered on that promise. Two and a half years later inspectors are out there and the code is in place to maintain standards. Those standards are not the toughest in Australia; they go to how much a driver can drive in a 24-hour period. Mr P.D. Omodei: What about elevated workplaces? Mr J.C. KOBELKE: Is the member saying that allowing a driver to drive for more than 17 hours in 24 hours is safe? That is what this member is saying. The Liberal Party wants to make it legal to drive for more than 17 hours in 24 hours. These people want deaths on our roads. They are quite happy to look after a minor sectional group and have people killed on our roads because they do not believe in setting standards. This Government will set standards. It believes in road safety. We have a rabble opposite that does not. We will make sure that people in Western Australia know the difference.
Mr M.W. Trenorden: And the National Party as well. Mr J.C. KOBELKE: And the National Party as well. I thought the member might have thought a bit more clearly about this matter. Fatigue in the transport industry is an issue that the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure took up in opposition with real gusto, because she saw this was a problem. Right across Australia the transport industry was moving with the times and saying that it needed to do things better. The former Liberal Government got onto the bandwagon half-heartedly and started the ball rolling. It was the current Minister for Planning and Infrastructure who, prior to the election, made a commitment to tough legislation that would be enforceable and, more importantly, that a Labor Government would spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to make the system work and to police it. The Government has followed through and delivered on that promise. Two and a half years later inspectors are out there and the code is in place to maintain standards. Those standards are not the toughest in Australia; they go to how much a driver can drive in a 24-hour period. Mr P.D. Omodei: What about elevated workplaces? Mr J.C. KOBELKE: Is the member saying that allowing a driver to drive for more than 17 hours in 24 hours is safe? That is what this member is saying. The Liberal Party wants to make it legal to drive for more than 17 hours in 24 hours. These people want deaths on our roads. They are quite happy to look after a minor sectional group and have people killed on our roads because they do not believe in setting standards. This Government will set standards. It believes in road safety. We have a rabble opposite that does not. We will make sure that people in Western Australia know the difference.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE: And the National Party as well. I thought the member might have thought a bit more clearly about this matter. Fatigue in the transport industry is an issue that the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure took up in opposition with real gusto, because she saw this was a problem. Right across Australia the transport industry was moving with the times and saying that it needed to do things better. The former Liberal Government got onto the bandwagon half-heartedly and started the ball rolling. It was the current Minister for Planning and Infrastructure who, prior to the election, made a commitment to tough legislation that would be enforceable and, more importantly, that a Labor Government would spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to make the system work and to police it. The Government has followed through and delivered on that promise. Two and a half years later inspectors are out there and the code is in place to maintain standards. Those standards are not the toughest in Australia; they go to how much a driver can drive in a 24-hour period. Mr P.D. Omodei: What about elevated workplaces? Mr J.C. KOBELKE: Is the member saying that allowing a driver to drive for more than 17 hours in 24 hours is safe? That is what this member is saying. The Liberal Party wants to make it legal to drive for more than 17 hours in 24 hours. These people want deaths on our roads. They are quite happy to look after a minor sectional group and have people killed on our roads because they do not believe in setting standards. This Government will set standards. It believes in road safety. We have a rabble opposite that does not. We will make sure that people in Western Australia know the difference.
Mr P.D. Omodei: What about elevated workplaces? Mr J.C. KOBELKE: Is the member saying that allowing a driver to drive for more than 17 hours in 24 hours is safe? That is what this member is saying. The Liberal Party wants to make it legal to drive for more than 17 hours in 24 hours. These people want deaths on our roads. They are quite happy to look after a minor sectional group and have people killed on our roads because they do not believe in setting standards. This Government will set standards. It believes in road safety. We have a rabble opposite that does not. We will make sure that people in Western Australia know the difference.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE: Is the member saying that allowing a driver to drive for more than 17 hours in 24 hours is safe? That is what this member is saying. The Liberal Party wants to make it legal to drive for more than 17 hours in 24 hours. These people want deaths on our roads. They are quite happy to look after a minor sectional group and have people killed on our roads because they do not believe in setting standards. This Government will set standards. It believes in road safety. We have a rabble opposite that does not. We will make sure that people in Western Australia know the difference.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: It is very pleasing that we should end up with such a good result. There was an issue with elevated work platforms in orchards. Western Australia had a lower standard and there was the real potential for people to be injured or killed: the orchardists themselves, their families or their workers. The member for Roleystone became involved in the issue and played a very active role in making sure that it was addressed. Mr M.W. Trenorden: What about the National Party? Mr J.C. KOBELKE: The Leader of the National Party also approached me with concerns. The industry worked with WorkSafe, WorkSafe listened to its concerns, the matter was carried through, and we now have an outcome that the industry considers to be good for it, because it wanted to make sure that its equipment was up to standard and that there was safety in the industry. It is a real win-win situation. Mr P.D. Omodei: Thanks to Brian Bradley, not to you. Mr J.C. KOBELKE: I will dismiss that comment, because it does not relate to the truth of the matter. Perhaps the Liberal member might like to take up this issue with his colleagues in the other place. When it comes to fatigue in the transport industry and deaths on our roads or serious injury to drivers and other road users, the Liberal Party in the other place is seeking to disallow this State’s fatigue regulations. That is absolutely ridiculous. Mr M.W. Trenorden: And the National Party as well. Mr J.C. KOBELKE: And the National Party as well. I thought the member might have thought a bit more clearly about this matter. Fatigue in the transport industry is an issue that the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure took up in opposition with real gusto, because she saw this was a problem. Right across Australia the transport industry was moving with the times and saying that it needed to do things better. The former Liberal Government got onto the bandwagon half-heartedly and started the ball rolling. It was the current Minister for Planning and Infrastructure who, prior to the election, made a commitment to tough legislation that would be enforceable and, more importantly, that a Labor Government would spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to make the system work and to police it. The Government has followed through and delivered on that promise. Two and a half years later inspectors are out there and the code is in place to maintain standards. Those standards are not the toughest in Australia; they go to how much a driver can drive in a 24-hour period. Mr P.D. Omodei: What about elevated workplaces? Mr J.C. KOBELKE: Is the member saying that allowing a driver to drive for more than 17 hours in 24 hours is safe? That is what this member is saying. The Liberal Party wants to make it legal to drive for more than 17 hours in 24 hours. These people want deaths on our roads. They are quite happy to look after a minor sectional group and have people killed on our roads because they do not believe in setting standards. This Government will set standards. It believes in road safety. We have a rabble opposite that does not. We will make sure that people in Western Australia know the difference.
It is very pleasing that we should end up with such a good result. There was an issue with elevated work platforms in orchards. Western Australia had a lower standard and there was the real potential for people to be injured or killed: the orchardists themselves, their families or their workers. The member for Roleystone became involved in the issue and played a very active role in making sure that it was addressed. Mr M.W. Trenorden: What about the National Party? Mr J.C. KOBELKE: The Leader of the National Party also approached me with concerns. The industry worked with WorkSafe, WorkSafe listened to its concerns, the matter was carried through, and we now have an outcome that the industry considers to be good for it, because it wanted to make sure that its equipment was up to standard and that there was safety in the industry. It is a real win-win situation. Mr P.D. Omodei: Thanks to Brian Bradley, not to you. Mr J.C. KOBELKE: I will dismiss that comment, because it does not relate to the truth of the matter. Perhaps the Liberal member might like to take up this issue with his colleagues in the other place. When it comes to fatigue in the transport industry and deaths on our roads or serious injury to drivers and other road users, the Liberal Party in the other place is seeking to disallow this State’s fatigue regulations. That is absolutely ridiculous. Mr M.W. Trenorden: And the National Party as well. Mr J.C. KOBELKE: And the National Party as well. I thought the member might have thought a bit more clearly about this matter. Fatigue in the transport industry is an issue that the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure took up in opposition with real gusto, because she saw this was a problem. Right across Australia the transport industry was moving with the times and saying that it needed to do things better. The former Liberal Government got onto the bandwagon half-heartedly and started the ball rolling. It was the current Minister for Planning and Infrastructure who, prior to the election, made a commitment to tough legislation that would be enforceable and, more importantly, that a Labor Government would spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to make the system work and to police it. The Government has followed through and delivered on that promise. Two and a half years later inspectors are out there and the code is in place to maintain standards. Those standards are not the toughest in Australia; they go to how much a driver can drive in a 24-hour period. Mr P.D. Omodei: What about elevated workplaces? Mr J.C. KOBELKE: Is the member saying that allowing a driver to drive for more than 17 hours in 24 hours is safe? That is what this member is saying. The Liberal Party wants to make it legal to drive for more than 17 hours in 24 hours. These people want deaths on our roads. They are quite happy to look after a minor sectional group and have people killed on our roads because they do not believe in setting standards. This Government will set standards. It believes in road safety. We have a rabble opposite that does not. We will make sure that people in Western Australia know the difference.
Mr M.W. Trenorden: What about the National Party? Mr J.C. KOBELKE: The Leader of the National Party also approached me with concerns. The industry worked with WorkSafe, WorkSafe listened to its concerns, the matter was carried through, and we now have an outcome that the industry considers to be good for it, because it wanted to make sure that its equipment was up to standard and that there was safety in the industry. It is a real win-win situation. Mr P.D. Omodei: Thanks to Brian Bradley, not to you. Mr J.C. KOBELKE: I will dismiss that comment, because it does not relate to the truth of the matter. Perhaps the Liberal member might like to take up this issue with his colleagues in the other place. When it comes to fatigue in the transport industry and deaths on our roads or serious injury to drivers and other road users, the Liberal Party in the other place is seeking to disallow this State’s fatigue regulations. That is absolutely ridiculous. Mr M.W. Trenorden: And the National Party as well. Mr J.C. KOBELKE: And the National Party as well. I thought the member might have thought a bit more clearly about this matter. Fatigue in the transport industry is an issue that the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure took up in opposition with real gusto, because she saw this was a problem. Right across Australia the transport industry was moving with the times and saying that it needed to do things better. The former Liberal Government got onto the bandwagon half-heartedly and started the ball rolling. It was the current Minister for Planning and Infrastructure who, prior to the election, made a commitment to tough legislation that would be enforceable and, more importantly, that a Labor Government would spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to make the system work and to police it. The Government has followed through and delivered on that promise. Two and a half years later inspectors are out there and the code is in place to maintain standards. Those standards are not the toughest in Australia; they go to how much a driver can drive in a 24-hour period. Mr P.D. Omodei: What about elevated workplaces? Mr J.C. KOBELKE: Is the member saying that allowing a driver to drive for more than 17 hours in 24 hours is safe? That is what this member is saying. The Liberal Party wants to make it legal to drive for more than 17 hours in 24 hours. These people want deaths on our roads. They are quite happy to look after a minor sectional group and have people killed on our roads because they do not believe in setting standards. This Government will set standards. It believes in road safety. We have a rabble opposite that does not. We will make sure that people in Western Australia know the difference.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE: The Leader of the National Party also approached me with concerns. The industry worked with WorkSafe, WorkSafe listened to its concerns, the matter was carried through, and we now have an outcome that the industry considers to be good for it, because it wanted to make sure that its equipment was up to standard and that there was safety in the industry. It is a real win-win situation. Mr P.D. Omodei: Thanks to Brian Bradley, not to you. Mr J.C. KOBELKE: I will dismiss that comment, because it does not relate to the truth of the matter. Perhaps the Liberal member might like to take up this issue with his colleagues in the other place. When it comes to fatigue in the transport industry and deaths on our roads or serious injury to drivers and other road users, the Liberal Party in the other place is seeking to disallow this State’s fatigue regulations. That is absolutely ridiculous. Mr M.W. Trenorden: And the National Party as well. Mr J.C. KOBELKE: And the National Party as well. I thought the member might have thought a bit more clearly about this matter. Fatigue in the transport industry is an issue that the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure took up in opposition with real gusto, because she saw this was a problem. Right across Australia the transport industry was moving with the times and saying that it needed to do things better. The former Liberal Government got onto the bandwagon half-heartedly and started the ball rolling. It was the current Minister for Planning and Infrastructure who, prior to the election, made a commitment to tough legislation that would be enforceable and, more importantly, that a Labor Government would spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to make the system work and to police it. The Government has followed through and delivered on that promise. Two and a half years later inspectors are out there and the code is in place to maintain standards. Those standards are not the toughest in Australia; they go to how much a driver can drive in a 24-hour period. Mr P.D. Omodei: What about elevated workplaces? Mr J.C. KOBELKE: Is the member saying that allowing a driver to drive for more than 17 hours in 24 hours is safe? That is what this member is saying. The Liberal Party wants to make it legal to drive for more than 17 hours in 24 hours. These people want deaths on our roads. They are quite happy to look after a minor sectional group and have people killed on our roads because they do not believe in setting standards. This Government will set standards. It believes in road safety. We have a rabble opposite that does not. We will make sure that people in Western Australia know the difference.
Mr P.D. Omodei: Thanks to Brian Bradley, not to you. Mr J.C. KOBELKE: I will dismiss that comment, because it does not relate to the truth of the matter. Perhaps the Liberal member might like to take up this issue with his colleagues in the other place. When it comes to fatigue in the transport industry and deaths on our roads or serious injury to drivers and other road users, the Liberal Party in the other place is seeking to disallow this State’s fatigue regulations. That is absolutely ridiculous. Mr M.W. Trenorden: And the National Party as well. Mr J.C. KOBELKE: And the National Party as well. I thought the member might have thought a bit more clearly about this matter. Fatigue in the transport industry is an issue that the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure took up in opposition with real gusto, because she saw this was a problem. Right across Australia the transport industry was moving with the times and saying that it needed to do things better. The former Liberal Government got onto the bandwagon half-heartedly and started the ball rolling. It was the current Minister for Planning and Infrastructure who, prior to the election, made a commitment to tough legislation that would be enforceable and, more importantly, that a Labor Government would spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to make the system work and to police it. The Government has followed through and delivered on that promise. Two and a half years later inspectors are out there and the code is in place to maintain standards. Those standards are not the toughest in Australia; they go to how much a driver can drive in a 24-hour period. Mr P.D. Omodei: What about elevated workplaces? Mr J.C. KOBELKE: Is the member saying that allowing a driver to drive for more than 17 hours in 24 hours is safe? That is what this member is saying. The Liberal Party wants to make it legal to drive for more than 17 hours in 24 hours. These people want deaths on our roads. They are quite happy to look after a minor sectional group and have people killed on our roads because they do not believe in setting standards. This Government will set standards. It believes in road safety. We have a rabble opposite that does not. We will make sure that people in Western Australia know the difference.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE: I will dismiss that comment, because it does not relate to the truth of the matter. Perhaps the Liberal member might like to take up this issue with his colleagues in the other place. When it comes to fatigue in the transport industry and deaths on our roads or serious injury to drivers and other road users, the Liberal Party in the other place is seeking to disallow this State’s fatigue regulations. That is absolutely ridiculous. Mr M.W. Trenorden: And the National Party as well. Mr J.C. KOBELKE: And the National Party as well. I thought the member might have thought a bit more clearly about this matter. Fatigue in the transport industry is an issue that the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure took up in opposition with real gusto, because she saw this was a problem. Right across Australia the transport industry was moving with the times and saying that it needed to do things better. The former Liberal Government got onto the bandwagon half-heartedly and started the ball rolling. It was the current Minister for Planning and Infrastructure who, prior to the election, made a commitment to tough legislation that would be enforceable and, more importantly, that a Labor Government would spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to make the system work and to police it. The Government has followed through and delivered on that promise. Two and a half years later inspectors are out there and the code is in place to maintain standards. Those standards are not the toughest in Australia; they go to how much a driver can drive in a 24-hour period. Mr P.D. Omodei: What about elevated workplaces? Mr J.C. KOBELKE: Is the member saying that allowing a driver to drive for more than 17 hours in 24 hours is safe? That is what this member is saying. The Liberal Party wants to make it legal to drive for more than 17 hours in 24 hours. These people want deaths on our roads. They are quite happy to look after a minor sectional group and have people killed on our roads because they do not believe in setting standards. This Government will set standards. It believes in road safety. We have a rabble opposite that does not. We will make sure that people in Western Australia know the difference.
Mr M.W. Trenorden: And the National Party as well. Mr J.C. KOBELKE: And the National Party as well. I thought the member might have thought a bit more clearly about this matter. Fatigue in the transport industry is an issue that the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure took up in opposition with real gusto, because she saw this was a problem. Right across Australia the transport industry was moving with the times and saying that it needed to do things better. The former Liberal Government got onto the bandwagon half-heartedly and started the ball rolling. It was the current Minister for Planning and Infrastructure who, prior to the election, made a commitment to tough legislation that would be enforceable and, more importantly, that a Labor Government would spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to make the system work and to police it. The Government has followed through and delivered on that promise. Two and a half years later inspectors are out there and the code is in place to maintain standards. Those standards are not the toughest in Australia; they go to how much a driver can drive in a 24-hour period. Mr P.D. Omodei: What about elevated workplaces? Mr J.C. KOBELKE: Is the member saying that allowing a driver to drive for more than 17 hours in 24 hours is safe? That is what this member is saying. The Liberal Party wants to make it legal to drive for more than 17 hours in 24 hours. These people want deaths on our roads. They are quite happy to look after a minor sectional group and have people killed on our roads because they do not believe in setting standards. This Government will set standards. It believes in road safety. We have a rabble opposite that does not. We will make sure that people in Western Australia know the difference.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE: And the National Party as well. I thought the member might have thought a bit more clearly about this matter. Fatigue in the transport industry is an issue that the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure took up in opposition with real gusto, because she saw this was a problem. Right across Australia the transport industry was moving with the times and saying that it needed to do things better. The former Liberal Government got onto the bandwagon half-heartedly and started the ball rolling. It was the current Minister for Planning and Infrastructure who, prior to the election, made a commitment to tough legislation that would be enforceable and, more importantly, that a Labor Government would spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to make the system work and to police it. The Government has followed through and delivered on that promise. Two and a half years later inspectors are out there and the code is in place to maintain standards. Those standards are not the toughest in Australia; they go to how much a driver can drive in a 24-hour period. Mr P.D. Omodei: What about elevated workplaces? Mr J.C. KOBELKE: Is the member saying that allowing a driver to drive for more than 17 hours in 24 hours is safe? That is what this member is saying. The Liberal Party wants to make it legal to drive for more than 17 hours in 24 hours. These people want deaths on our roads. They are quite happy to look after a minor sectional group and have people killed on our roads because they do not believe in setting standards. This Government will set standards. It believes in road safety. We have a rabble opposite that does not. We will make sure that people in Western Australia know the difference.
Mr P.D. Omodei: What about elevated workplaces? Mr J.C. KOBELKE: Is the member saying that allowing a driver to drive for more than 17 hours in 24 hours is safe? That is what this member is saying. The Liberal Party wants to make it legal to drive for more than 17 hours in 24 hours. These people want deaths on our roads. They are quite happy to look after a minor sectional group and have people killed on our roads because they do not believe in setting standards. This Government will set standards. It believes in road safety. We have a rabble opposite that does not. We will make sure that people in Western Australia know the difference.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE: Is the member saying that allowing a driver to drive for more than 17 hours in 24 hours is safe? That is what this member is saying. The Liberal Party wants to make it legal to drive for more than 17 hours in 24 hours. These people want deaths on our roads. They are quite happy to look after a minor sectional group and have people killed on our roads because they do not believe in setting standards. This Government will set standards. It believes in road safety. We have a rabble opposite that does not. We will make sure that people in Western Australia know the difference.
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