Dr. Thomas questions the Premier about traffic chaos on the Kwinana Freeway and the lack of an emergency management plan. The Premier acknowledges the tragic accident, promises a review, and accuses the opposition of politicising the issue.

AnsweredQoN 669Legislative Assembly
Asked
8 November 2005
Portfolio
Premier

QuestionView source ↗

I refer the Premier to yesterday’s traffic chaos on the Kwinana Freeway, when Perth was, once again, gridlocked for most of the morning. As this is the second time in six months that the public has experienced crippling delays and inconvenience on the freeway, when will the Premier, or the hapless Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, develop a comprehensive emergency management plan, including a traffic and, most importantly, communication strategy, to ensure people’s lives are not put at risk in the case of a major emergency? Dr G.I. GALLOP

AnswerView source ↗

That was a tragic accident that occurred yesterday on the Kwinana Freeway. It was an accident. The man had a seizure, and as a result a serious accident occurred. The authorities had to come in and deal with the consequences of that. There will be a full review of all of the circumstances surrounding that accident. Main Roads has made it clear that it apologises to motorists for the implications that occurred, particularly for those young students who were travelling to their exams. I applaud the position taken by the minister to make sure that those students could still do their exams. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP : I point out to opposition members that the politicisation of every occurrence in Western Australia, which appears to be the way members opposite are conducting themselves, will not necessarily lead to good outcomes. We will examine this incident and whether, as a result of it, any improvements should be put in place.
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: That was a tragic accident that occurred yesterday on the Kwinana Freeway. It was an accident. The man had a seizure, and as a result a serious accident occurred. The authorities had to come in and deal with the consequences of that. There will be a full review of all of the circumstances surrounding that accident. Main Roads has made it clear that it apologises to motorists for the implications that occurred, particularly for those young students who were travelling to their exams. I applaud the position taken by the minister to make sure that those students could still do their exams. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP : I point out to opposition members that the politicisation of every occurrence in Western Australia, which appears to be the way members opposite are conducting themselves, will not necessarily lead to good outcomes. We will examine this incident and whether, as a result of it, any improvements should be put in place.
That was a tragic accident that occurred yesterday on the Kwinana Freeway. It was an accident. The man had a seizure, and as a result a serious accident occurred. The authorities had to come in and deal with the consequences of that. There will be a full review of all of the circumstances surrounding that accident. Main Roads has made it clear that it apologises to motorists for the implications that occurred, particularly for those young students who were travelling to their exams. I applaud the position taken by the minister to make sure that those students could still do their exams. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP : I point out to opposition members that the politicisation of every occurrence in Western Australia, which appears to be the way members opposite are conducting themselves, will not necessarily lead to good outcomes. We will examine this incident and whether, as a result of it, any improvements should be put in place.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP : I point out to opposition members that the politicisation of every occurrence in Western Australia, which appears to be the way members opposite are conducting themselves, will not necessarily lead to good outcomes. We will examine this incident and whether, as a result of it, any improvements should be put in place.
The SPEAKER : Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP : I point out to opposition members that the politicisation of every occurrence in Western Australia, which appears to be the way members opposite are conducting themselves, will not necessarily lead to good outcomes. We will examine this incident and whether, as a result of it, any improvements should be put in place.
Dr G.I. GALLOP : I point out to opposition members that the politicisation of every occurrence in Western Australia, which appears to be the way members opposite are conducting themselves, will not necessarily lead to good outcomes. We will examine this incident and whether, as a result of it, any improvements should be put in place.

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