A WA parliamentary question on notice addresses driver's licence examination waiting times in the Margaret River and Pemberton regions, highlighting the impact on employment and seeking government action to reduce delays.

AnsweredQoN 291Legislative Council
Asked
9 May 2007
Portfolio
Planning and Infrastructure

QuestionView source ↗

MARGARET RIVER REGION - PEMBERTON - DRIVERS’ LICENCE EXAMINATIONS
I refer to the examinations for drivers’ licences in the Margaret River region and in Pemberton. (1) How long do learner drivers have to wait to be examined for their C-class licence in Margaret River? (2) How long do learner drivers have to wait to be examined for their C-class licence in Pemberton? (3) Where is the nearest office that conducts HC or HR drivers’ licence testing for people who live in Margaret River, and how long is the waiting list? (4) Where is the nearest office that conducts HC or HR drivers’ licence testing in Pemberton, and how long is the waiting list? (5) Is the minister aware that in the Margaret River region, employers are having difficulty getting employees, and employees are missing out on employment opportunities because they cannot get their drivers’ licences in a reasonable time? (6) What is the government doing about the excessive time delays and backlog in examinations for driving licences in the Margaret River region? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(4) In Margaret River and Pemberton, practical driving assessments are conducted by the Western Australian police. As policing duties take priority over conducting driving assessments, this can affect waiting times. The current waiting time in Margaret River for C, HR and HC classes is four and a half months, and the current waiting time in Pemberton for C and HR classes is one to two weeks. The nearest HC assessment location to Pemberton is Bridgetown, where the waiting time is one week. Applicants may also book a driving assessment at the nearby Busselton or Bunbury licensing centres. (5)-(6) I am aware of the statewide relationship between the economic boom, the skills shortage and the pressure on licensing services. I recently announced a $73.8 million funding package to address growth pressures, including waiting times, on licensing services across the state. The Department for Planning and Infrastructure is currently recruiting two additional driver assessors for the south west region to assist in dealing with the increasing demand for driving assessments.
(1) How long do learner drivers have to wait to be examined for their C-class licence in Margaret River? (2) How long do learner drivers have to wait to be examined for their C-class licence in Pemberton? (3) Where is the nearest office that conducts HC or HR drivers’ licence testing for people who live in Margaret River, and how long is the waiting list? (4) Where is the nearest office that conducts HC or HR drivers’ licence testing in Pemberton, and how long is the waiting list? (5) Is the minister aware that in the Margaret River region, employers are having difficulty getting employees, and employees are missing out on employment opportunities because they cannot get their drivers’ licences in a reasonable time? (6) What is the government doing about the excessive time delays and backlog in examinations for driving licences in the Margaret River region? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(4) In Margaret River and Pemberton, practical driving assessments are conducted by the Western Australian police. As policing duties take priority over conducting driving assessments, this can affect waiting times. The current waiting time in Margaret River for C, HR and HC classes is four and a half months, and the current waiting time in Pemberton for C and HR classes is one to two weeks. The nearest HC assessment location to Pemberton is Bridgetown, where the waiting time is one week. Applicants may also book a driving assessment at the nearby Busselton or Bunbury licensing centres. (5)-(6) I am aware of the statewide relationship between the economic boom, the skills shortage and the pressure on licensing services. I recently announced a $73.8 million funding package to address growth pressures, including waiting times, on licensing services across the state. The Department for Planning and Infrastructure is currently recruiting two additional driver assessors for the south west region to assist in dealing with the increasing demand for driving assessments.
(2) How long do learner drivers have to wait to be examined for their C-class licence in Pemberton? (3) Where is the nearest office that conducts HC or HR drivers’ licence testing for people who live in Margaret River, and how long is the waiting list? (4) Where is the nearest office that conducts HC or HR drivers’ licence testing in Pemberton, and how long is the waiting list? (5) Is the minister aware that in the Margaret River region, employers are having difficulty getting employees, and employees are missing out on employment opportunities because they cannot get their drivers’ licences in a reasonable time? (6) What is the government doing about the excessive time delays and backlog in examinations for driving licences in the Margaret River region? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(4) In Margaret River and Pemberton, practical driving assessments are conducted by the Western Australian police. As policing duties take priority over conducting driving assessments, this can affect waiting times. The current waiting time in Margaret River for C, HR and HC classes is four and a half months, and the current waiting time in Pemberton for C and HR classes is one to two weeks. The nearest HC assessment location to Pemberton is Bridgetown, where the waiting time is one week. Applicants may also book a driving assessment at the nearby Busselton or Bunbury licensing centres. (5)-(6) I am aware of the statewide relationship between the economic boom, the skills shortage and the pressure on licensing services. I recently announced a $73.8 million funding package to address growth pressures, including waiting times, on licensing services across the state. The Department for Planning and Infrastructure is currently recruiting two additional driver assessors for the south west region to assist in dealing with the increasing demand for driving assessments.
(3) Where is the nearest office that conducts HC or HR drivers’ licence testing for people who live in Margaret River, and how long is the waiting list? (4) Where is the nearest office that conducts HC or HR drivers’ licence testing in Pemberton, and how long is the waiting list? (5) Is the minister aware that in the Margaret River region, employers are having difficulty getting employees, and employees are missing out on employment opportunities because they cannot get their drivers’ licences in a reasonable time? (6) What is the government doing about the excessive time delays and backlog in examinations for driving licences in the Margaret River region? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(4) In Margaret River and Pemberton, practical driving assessments are conducted by the Western Australian police. As policing duties take priority over conducting driving assessments, this can affect waiting times. The current waiting time in Margaret River for C, HR and HC classes is four and a half months, and the current waiting time in Pemberton for C and HR classes is one to two weeks. The nearest HC assessment location to Pemberton is Bridgetown, where the waiting time is one week. Applicants may also book a driving assessment at the nearby Busselton or Bunbury licensing centres. (5)-(6) I am aware of the statewide relationship between the economic boom, the skills shortage and the pressure on licensing services. I recently announced a $73.8 million funding package to address growth pressures, including waiting times, on licensing services across the state. The Department for Planning and Infrastructure is currently recruiting two additional driver assessors for the south west region to assist in dealing with the increasing demand for driving assessments.
(4) Where is the nearest office that conducts HC or HR drivers’ licence testing in Pemberton, and how long is the waiting list? (5) Is the minister aware that in the Margaret River region, employers are having difficulty getting employees, and employees are missing out on employment opportunities because they cannot get their drivers’ licences in a reasonable time? (6) What is the government doing about the excessive time delays and backlog in examinations for driving licences in the Margaret River region? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(4) In Margaret River and Pemberton, practical driving assessments are conducted by the Western Australian police. As policing duties take priority over conducting driving assessments, this can affect waiting times. The current waiting time in Margaret River for C, HR and HC classes is four and a half months, and the current waiting time in Pemberton for C and HR classes is one to two weeks. The nearest HC assessment location to Pemberton is Bridgetown, where the waiting time is one week. Applicants may also book a driving assessment at the nearby Busselton or Bunbury licensing centres. (5)-(6) I am aware of the statewide relationship between the economic boom, the skills shortage and the pressure on licensing services. I recently announced a $73.8 million funding package to address growth pressures, including waiting times, on licensing services across the state. The Department for Planning and Infrastructure is currently recruiting two additional driver assessors for the south west region to assist in dealing with the increasing demand for driving assessments.
(5) Is the minister aware that in the Margaret River region, employers are having difficulty getting employees, and employees are missing out on employment opportunities because they cannot get their drivers’ licences in a reasonable time? (6) What is the government doing about the excessive time delays and backlog in examinations for driving licences in the Margaret River region? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(4) In Margaret River and Pemberton, practical driving assessments are conducted by the Western Australian police. As policing duties take priority over conducting driving assessments, this can affect waiting times. The current waiting time in Margaret River for C, HR and HC classes is four and a half months, and the current waiting time in Pemberton for C and HR classes is one to two weeks. The nearest HC assessment location to Pemberton is Bridgetown, where the waiting time is one week. Applicants may also book a driving assessment at the nearby Busselton or Bunbury licensing centres. (5)-(6) I am aware of the statewide relationship between the economic boom, the skills shortage and the pressure on licensing services. I recently announced a $73.8 million funding package to address growth pressures, including waiting times, on licensing services across the state. The Department for Planning and Infrastructure is currently recruiting two additional driver assessors for the south west region to assist in dealing with the increasing demand for driving assessments.
(6) What is the government doing about the excessive time delays and backlog in examinations for driving licences in the Margaret River region? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(4) In Margaret River and Pemberton, practical driving assessments are conducted by the Western Australian police. As policing duties take priority over conducting driving assessments, this can affect waiting times. The current waiting time in Margaret River for C, HR and HC classes is four and a half months, and the current waiting time in Pemberton for C and HR classes is one to two weeks. The nearest HC assessment location to Pemberton is Bridgetown, where the waiting time is one week. Applicants may also book a driving assessment at the nearby Busselton or Bunbury licensing centres. (5)-(6) I am aware of the statewide relationship between the economic boom, the skills shortage and the pressure on licensing services. I recently announced a $73.8 million funding package to address growth pressures, including waiting times, on licensing services across the state. The Department for Planning and Infrastructure is currently recruiting two additional driver assessors for the south west region to assist in dealing with the increasing demand for driving assessments.
Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(4) In Margaret River and Pemberton, practical driving assessments are conducted by the Western Australian police. As policing duties take priority over conducting driving assessments, this can affect waiting times. The current waiting time in Margaret River for C, HR and HC classes is four and a half months, and the current waiting time in Pemberton for C and HR classes is one to two weeks. The nearest HC assessment location to Pemberton is Bridgetown, where the waiting time is one week. Applicants may also book a driving assessment at the nearby Busselton or Bunbury licensing centres. (5)-(6) I am aware of the statewide relationship between the economic boom, the skills shortage and the pressure on licensing services. I recently announced a $73.8 million funding package to address growth pressures, including waiting times, on licensing services across the state. The Department for Planning and Infrastructure is currently recruiting two additional driver assessors for the south west region to assist in dealing with the increasing demand for driving assessments.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(4) In Margaret River and Pemberton, practical driving assessments are conducted by the Western Australian police. As policing duties take priority over conducting driving assessments, this can affect waiting times. The current waiting time in Margaret River for C, HR and HC classes is four and a half months, and the current waiting time in Pemberton for C and HR classes is one to two weeks. The nearest HC assessment location to Pemberton is Bridgetown, where the waiting time is one week. Applicants may also book a driving assessment at the nearby Busselton or Bunbury licensing centres. (5)-(6) I am aware of the statewide relationship between the economic boom, the skills shortage and the pressure on licensing services. I recently announced a $73.8 million funding package to address growth pressures, including waiting times, on licensing services across the state. The Department for Planning and Infrastructure is currently recruiting two additional driver assessors for the south west region to assist in dealing with the increasing demand for driving assessments.
(1)-(4) In Margaret River and Pemberton, practical driving assessments are conducted by the Western Australian police. As policing duties take priority over conducting driving assessments, this can affect waiting times. The current waiting time in Margaret River for C, HR and HC classes is four and a half months, and the current waiting time in Pemberton for C and HR classes is one to two weeks. The nearest HC assessment location to Pemberton is Bridgetown, where the waiting time is one week. Applicants may also book a driving assessment at the nearby Busselton or Bunbury licensing centres. (5)-(6) I am aware of the statewide relationship between the economic boom, the skills shortage and the pressure on licensing services. I recently announced a $73.8 million funding package to address growth pressures, including waiting times, on licensing services across the state. The Department for Planning and Infrastructure is currently recruiting two additional driver assessors for the south west region to assist in dealing with the increasing demand for driving assessments.
(5)-(6) I am aware of the statewide relationship between the economic boom, the skills shortage and the pressure on licensing services. I recently announced a $73.8 million funding package to address growth pressures, including waiting times, on licensing services across the state. The Department for Planning and Infrastructure is currently recruiting two additional driver assessors for the south west region to assist in dealing with the increasing demand for driving assessments.

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