Page 3946 - Week 14 - Tuesday, 23 October 1990
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is absolutely great - teaching our young safe riding habits at an early age, at an age when they are just getting their licence. To make that compulsory so that they have to learn it and learn safe habits is a very good step indeed.
Mr Kaine: Do not stop now, Bill. You still have 6 minutes.
MR STEFANIAK: Thank you, Chief Minister. The road toll has been steadily declining in recent years, nationally and to an extent in the ACT. We have not had a good road toll perhaps over the last 10 or 15 years; but it is slowly declining, which is good to see. In 1988 the cost of road accidents was estimated at $560,000 per person killed, which represents an enormous financial cost on the community. The emotional cost of pain, grief and suffering, of course, is immeasurable.
The introduction of this Bill provides another small but significant step towards keeping the road toll down, reducing the cost on the community and providing a safer road environment for all of us to enjoy.
MR JENSEN (9.21): Mr Deputy Speaker, in speaking to this Bill I wish to make some comment on the points raised by Mr Moore in expressing concern about penalties on the community during a recession. I note Mr Moore is busy on other things, so he is not listening. I hope he will take some notice of what I have to say.
Mr Moore: I take a point of order. There is a clear imputation there. In fact I have in front of me the Motor Traffic Ordinance. I have the specific Bill. I am checking the Bill against the other thing. To suggest that I am doing something else is totally inappropriate. This is just the very wrong moment. He could have got me at almost any other part of the day, but he has got me at the wrong minute.
MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr Moore. I do not believe that is a point of order. I think Mr Jensen would have to be a mind reader. We will take that as an explanation. Continue, Mr Jensen.
MR JENSEN: When I was referring to Mr Moore's comments, he clearly was not listening to what I had to say. He was doing something else. Mr Deputy Speaker, it seems to me that it is long past the time when an increase in fines is due. In fact, it could be argued that small fines do not discourage those who seek to break the law and the community will suffer because there are some who choose not to adopt a responsible attitude to the use of a motor vehicle.
We must remember, Mr Deputy Speaker, that a licence to drive a motor vehicle is not a right; it is a privilege which carries considerable responsibilities which I, as a parent, have been seeking to encourage and advise my young
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