❓ Mr. Michel asks about the impact of the Driving Access and Equity Program in regional WA. The Minister responds with program details, participant numbers, and success stories, highlighting its role in improving access to services and employment.
AnsweredQoN 122Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Driving access and equity program—Regions
122 . ������ Mr Kevin Michel to the Minister
Assisting the Minister for Transport:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's commitment to ensuring that all Western Australians have
access to services they need, no matter where they live.
(1) Can the minister advise the house how the driving
access and equity program is helping Western Australians in regional and remote
parts of the state to access services and employment?
(2) Can the minister update the house on how many
Western Australians this program has supported?
122 . ������ Mr Kevin Michel to the Minister
Assisting the Minister for Transport:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's commitment to ensuring that all Western Australians have
access to services they need, no matter where they live.
(1) Can the minister advise the house how the driving
access and equity program is helping Western Australians in regional and remote
parts of the state to access services and employment?
(2) Can the minister update the house on how many
Western Australians this program has supported?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I thank the member for his
question and his continued advocacy, not just in the Pilbara but for all remote
and regional communities across Western Australia. I am delighted to advise the
house that the Cook Labor government is delivering real and meaningful change
to disadvantaged learner drivers through our driving access and equity program.
This program was launched in 2022 and, since then, our government has committed
$26 million to help disadvantaged learner drivers in remote and regional WA
obtain their driver's licence.
We on this side of the house
know that a driver's licence is more than just a card with someone's photo and
details on it. It is more than just credentials; it is an economic
participation tool. It is a key enabler to allow people to access jobs. We know
that some people face significant geographical, social and financial barriers
to obtaining a driver's licence, such as no access to a suitable vehicle or no
driving supervisor or licensed assessor. The cost of lessons can be a barrier.
In some parts of WA, there are simply no driver and vehicle licensing centres
nearby.
The Cook Labor government is
partnering with 29 organisations and we are delivering in 111 locations across
Western Australia to support people to overcome these barriers to become safe,
licensed and, importantly, employable drivers. Over 4,450 participants are
working towards getting their driver's licence, 64% of whom identify as
Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. The program has funded the purchase of 61
five-star-rated Australasian New Car Assessment Program vehicles. We have
trained 95 driving supervisors as well as 74 driving instructors, who are now
fully licensed. Five more training courses will be delivered by 30 June 2026.
The grants have funded
organisations to deliver an amazing 45,000 hours of supervised and professional
driving. We have supported over 1,000 participants to not only get their
driver's licence but also assist with "out of car" challenges, from
ID documents to road safety education. I am proud to advise the house that
1,637 driver's licences have now been issued through this program and 748 of
those people have identified that they have gained employment since getting a
driver's licence.
Although we all love data and
making decisions and policy around data, anecdotal evidence is just as
important. I will be very quick, Mr Speaker, but I just wanted to give members a
few anecdotes. Mariah from Kalgoorlie said:
I passed my PDA on the second
attempt. Hayley, my instructor, never gave up on me. Now I can get to my
hairdressing training.
Aliah from Fitzroy Crossing,
member for Kimberley, said:
With help from Marra Worra Worra
Aboriginal Corporation, I got my P plates. I now drive to work and between jobs.
In
just six months, Aliah gained full-time employment and now holds a white card,
a qualification in skid steer, excavator and loader, and a provisional
manual driver's licence. Not only do the statistics speak for themselves, but also
the anecdotes speak for themselves. This is an amazing program, and we are
delivering for regional and remote Western Australia.
The Speaker: The Leader of the National Party with the
last question.
question and his continued advocacy, not just in the Pilbara but for all remote
and regional communities across Western Australia. I am delighted to advise the
house that the Cook Labor government is delivering real and meaningful change
to disadvantaged learner drivers through our driving access and equity program.
This program was launched in 2022 and, since then, our government has committed
$26 million to help disadvantaged learner drivers in remote and regional WA
obtain their driver's licence.
We on this side of the house
know that a driver's licence is more than just a card with someone's photo and
details on it. It is more than just credentials; it is an economic
participation tool. It is a key enabler to allow people to access jobs. We know
that some people face significant geographical, social and financial barriers
to obtaining a driver's licence, such as no access to a suitable vehicle or no
driving supervisor or licensed assessor. The cost of lessons can be a barrier.
In some parts of WA, there are simply no driver and vehicle licensing centres
nearby.
The Cook Labor government is
partnering with 29 organisations and we are delivering in 111 locations across
Western Australia to support people to overcome these barriers to become safe,
licensed and, importantly, employable drivers. Over 4,450 participants are
working towards getting their driver's licence, 64% of whom identify as
Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. The program has funded the purchase of 61
five-star-rated Australasian New Car Assessment Program vehicles. We have
trained 95 driving supervisors as well as 74 driving instructors, who are now
fully licensed. Five more training courses will be delivered by 30 June 2026.
The grants have funded
organisations to deliver an amazing 45,000 hours of supervised and professional
driving. We have supported over 1,000 participants to not only get their
driver's licence but also assist with "out of car" challenges, from
ID documents to road safety education. I am proud to advise the house that
1,637 driver's licences have now been issued through this program and 748 of
those people have identified that they have gained employment since getting a
driver's licence.
Although we all love data and
making decisions and policy around data, anecdotal evidence is just as
important. I will be very quick, Mr Speaker, but I just wanted to give members a
few anecdotes. Mariah from Kalgoorlie said:
I passed my PDA on the second
attempt. Hayley, my instructor, never gave up on me. Now I can get to my
hairdressing training.
Aliah from Fitzroy Crossing,
member for Kimberley, said:
With help from Marra Worra Worra
Aboriginal Corporation, I got my P plates. I now drive to work and between jobs.
In
just six months, Aliah gained full-time employment and now holds a white card,
a qualification in skid steer, excavator and loader, and a provisional
manual driver's licence. Not only do the statistics speak for themselves, but also
the anecdotes speak for themselves. This is an amazing program, and we are
delivering for regional and remote Western Australia.
The Speaker: The Leader of the National Party with the
last question.
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.