Page 4769 - Week 16 - Wednesday, 28 November 1990
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In October this year the Assembly passed a Bill which consolidated the requirements of Australian design rules in ACT legislation. Australian design rule 65/00, which covers maximum road speed limiting for heavy goods vehicles and heavy omnibuses, is one of those design rules. The Australian design rule system is an area of the transport system where there is consistency across all Australian jurisdictions.
The Prime Minister's 10-point package of road safety initiatives, announced on 5 December 1989, sought to improve road safety in two main ways: firstly, to assist the State and Territory governments to reduce road safety blackspots; and, secondly, to increase the impetus towards attaining national uniformity on road and traffic matters. It is history, Mr Deputy Speaker, that Minister Duby, following attendance at a conference, was able to increase the amount of money that was originally allocated under that program for the ACT. I think it is appropriate to pay due regard for that effort.
The 10-point package included such measures as the introduction of national levels for blood alcohol concentration, national uniform speed limits and national licensing of heavy truck and bus drivers. I would be the first to acknowledge, Mr Deputy Speaker, that some of these initiatives will have a more profound significance for some other jurisdictions than they will have for the ACT. Fortunately, the ACT does not have some of the long lengths of barely maintained roads that some of the States have and which have been the cause of some of the dreadful accidents that Mrs Grassby mentioned. The fundamental issue is that all States and Territories should move together in the interest of pursuing national objectives which will have national benefits. I notice that Mrs Grassby seems to have a clear attack of Hiawatha disease over there. That is a major problem.
Mrs Grassby: No, I am just bored stiff.
MR JENSEN: This Bill is part of a continuing commitment towards a broadband government policy of road safety initiatives which have been introduced progressively over the last 12 months since this Government took office. Such initiatives have included improved child restraints legislation to protect children under one year of age, increased traffic infringement fines and, more recently, the incorporation of all Australian design rules into ACT legislation.
Overall, Mr Deputy Speaker, this Bill will not only provide a positive contribution towards improving road safety but also add uniformity to Australian road user laws, to the benefit of all members of the community. I commend its introduction and passage in this place.
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