CHECK AeGAINST-DEIV2EBY EMBARrOED UNTIL DELITVERY
SPEECH BY THE PRIME MINISTER
NATIONAL ROAD TRAUMA ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETING
CANBERRA 13 DECEMBER 19go
Brian Howe
Bob Brown
Sir Nicholas Shehadie ( Chairman)
Members of the Council
I am very pleased to be with you today at this inaugural
meeting of the National Road Trauma Advisory Council.
When I announced the formation of the Council in August this
year I emphasiLsed that it will allow its members to have a
direct input iLnto the process for establishing and reviewing
road and vehicle safety standards and related issues, on a
national basis.
To achieve a national approach to road trauma we clearly
need to co-ordinate the efforts of the many Government and
non-governmen: organisation whose work contributes to road
safety. The presence here today of my ministerial colleagues Brian
Howe and Bob Brown symbolises my Government's commitment to
work co-operat~ ively to reduce the national tragedy of road
trauma. I am pleased to0 note that we have been able to attract
people of such high calibre to join the Council. As a
result of your presence, this Council possesses skills and
experience of the very highest order, including
medical experts in trauma management and
rehabilitation; transport: economists;
a representative of the law enforcement agencies; and
the motor vehicle industry.
Your collective advice will, I am sure, be of lasting
benefit to the Government and the Australian people.
The Departments of Community Services and Health and
Transport and Communications will, as you know, play key
roles in the working of the Council.
And I have asked my own Department to maintain a close
working relationship with the Council and to keep me
informed of developments.
You may also be aware that, during the earlier planning
stages, I gave my personal assurance to Sir Dennis Paterson
and the Australian Medical Association of my continuing
involvement in the deliberations of the Council.
I reiterate today that my door remains open to you.
Around this time last year, Bob Brown and I announced a plan
to achieve nationally uniform and more effective road safety
rules. As an incentive to State co-operation, we promised
$ 110 million to help eradicate road safety black spots.
And we agreed to invest an extra $ 10 million in road safety
research and public education programs.
I am pleased to say that during the past year all States and
Territories, with the regrettable exception of the Northern
Territory, have agreed to adopt the national 10-point road
safety package that we proposed:
legislation to give effect to the black spot program is
currently before the Federal Parliament
there has been a greater resolution by all Governments
to cut the road toll
Victoria is a particular success story and
nationally, road fatalities have fallen by nearly
400 this year, to a 30 year low.
The importance of the task that lies ahead of you is
underscored by the fact that it is almost a year to the day
since Australians were shocked by the tragedy of a crash
involving two fully laden buses.
With the Christmas-New Year road toll period now upon us
again, it is important that we remind ourselves of the
desperate need for safety on our roads.
With those States which had a .08 blood alcohol level now
moving to adopt, under our black spots program, the uniform
national level of .05, the message all Governments will be
putting out this Christmas is clear if you drink, don't
drive. The lives you save, the injuries you prevent, may be
your own, or those of your own family.
We do not pretend that this Council's job is made less
necessary by the black spots program, or that simple
solutions are available.
We need to change attitudes and behaviours which seem to be
ingrained in-to our society attitudes to speed, drink
driving, risk taking and aggression.
We need to foster greater consideration to other road users,
patience and respect for others. These changes of attitude
are the hardest but most necessary issues we need to
face.
We need to continue our efforts to develop policies which
reduce the incidence of road accidents, to minimise the
impact of those which do occur and to assist the recovery of
those who are injured in crashes.
The National Road Trauma Advisory Council is in a unique
position to assist in meeting these challenges.
It has the support of all the nation's political leaders:
my personal commitment
that of the Premiers and Chief Ministers
and that of the Federal Opposition
Your reports will be addressed to me and they will be tabled
in Parliament. And the Premiers and Chief Ministers have
agreed to table your reports in their Parliaments.
You have an opportunity to influence legislatures as few
other community organisations have.
I encourage you to consult widely with the States and
Territories and with local Government and other interested
groups. I know you will present well considered, constructive advice
and that you are aware of the complex framework within which
advances in road safety need to be made.
But equally, I know that if we work together we will succeed
in advancing road safety for the benefit of all Australians.
I wish you well with your task.