PM Transcripts

PRIME MINISTER
FOR MEDIA 13 DECEMBER 1990
FIRST NATIONAL ROAD TRAUMA ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETING
Members of the National Road Trauma Advisory Council met in
Canberra today to consider road safety and health issues.
Brian Howe, Bob Brown and I attended the inaugural meeting
which considered the integration of health and transport
issues.
The eight member Advisory Council was established to allow
health professionals and other community groups to help
formulate road and vehicle safety standards. It is based on
a proposal put to me by the Australian Medical Association
and, in particular, Sir Dennis Paterson. The Australian
Medical Association has done a great deal to support the
Council's development. The State Premiers and Chief
Ministers have also agreed to support the Council and its
proposals. Three year appointees are Sir Nicholas Shehadie, Professor
Sir Dennis Paterson, Mr Gordon Trinca, Mr Bill Horman and Mr
Peter Makeham.
Dr Ruth Marshall, Mr Ray Brown and Ms Margaret Starrs were
appointed for two years.
The Council has been appointed to advise the Government on
effective and achievable ways to cut further the number of
people killed and injured on Australian roads. In
particular, it will identify principal causes of road
crashes and may propose national policies leading to a
reduction in road trauma. While much of the emphasis in
recent years has been on heavy vehicle safety, there is a
continuing need to examine trends in passenger vehicle
safety. For example, the Council will have before it a
paper on future directions in occupant protection which
includes discussion of devices such as air bags.
The Council will report to the Premiers and to me annually
and findings will be tabled in Federal Parliament.
Details of appointees' careers are available from the Office
of the Minister for Land Transport.