Ms. Saffioti questions the Minister for Transport about conflicting statements regarding safety audits for electronic billboards. The Minister acknowledges audits occurred but halted further commissioning due to new information.

AnsweredQoN 602Legislative Assembly
Asked
13 August 2015
Portfolio
Transport

QuestionView source ↗

DIGITAL ADVERTISING
602. Ms R. SAFFIOTI to the Minister for
Transport:
I refer to the 10-year contract with
APN Outdoor that the minister entered into in 2014 and the announcement of the
first four sites for electronic billboards around the metropolitan area. Why
did the minister claim two days ago that no safety audits had been undertaken
for these four selected sites before the contract was entered into when, in
fact, safety audits were undertaken in January 2013?

AnswerView source ↗

Regarding the billboards, there were
a number of audits undertaken along the way, but I became aware of further
information subsequent to the commissioning of Bull Creek station. When I
became aware of that further information, I called for the immediate shutdown
of the billboard on Kwinana Freeway. With regard to the billboard that sits on
the other side of the freeway, it is part of the City of Perth and has nothing
to do with the Department of Transport. It was commissioned by the City of
Perth. We were asked for advice on that. The advice we provided around that
particular billboard was to do with —
Point of Order
Mr
W.J. JOHNSTON : This question relates to the APN sites that the
minister agreed to; it is nothing to do with the City of Perth. Mr Speaker, I
would appreciate it if you could direct him to answer the question asked.
The
SPEAKER : Minister, address the question.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr D.C. NALDER :
With the City of Perth billboard, we were asked to comment on the illumination —
Point of Order
Mr
W.J. JOHNSTON : The question did not relate generally to billboards;
it was about the APN billboards that the minister agreed to establish. I would
appreciate it if you could get him to actually answer the question about the
issues in his responsibility, not other matters.
The
SPEAKER : Minister, come back to the point, please.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr D.C. NALDER : I
am just finishing off on this point, because this is what leads into it.
Several members interjected.
Mr D.C. NALDER : I
am talking right now about the City of Perth.
If I have referred to the wrong billboards and made an
incorrect statement, I therefore apologise. There were audits undertaken,
particularly with regard to Bull Creek station before it was commissioned, so I
am acknowledging that there were safety audits, but I became aware of further
information and hence I closed it. I am not allowing any further commissioning
of any billboard on the freeway until I am fully satisfied that they can
operate in a safe manner.

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