Page 761 - Week 03 - Thursday, 21 May 1992
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MINISTER FOR URBAN SERVICES
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTION
QUESTION NO. 81
Bicycle Helmets
Mr Moore - asked the Minister for Urban Services:
(1) Bearing in mind your statement to the Legislative Assembly on 18 September 1991 that Labor Party policy is essentially the view of John Stuart Mill, namely that an individual has the maximum freedom until the point at which that freedom hurts another; what hurt to another do you rely upon to justify a law to take away a cyclists freedom to choose whether of not to wear a helmet for self-protection.
(2) If the hurt to another is merely the cost to the public health-care system, is it a fact that the cost of caring for cyclists with head injuries is minuscule compared to occupants of motor vehicles and pedestrians with head injuries, and persons with diseases caused by smoking; how then does the Minister justify the discrimination against cyclists.
(3) Did your Department advise upon the Commonwealth Governments inclusion of compulsory helmets in its offer of additional funds for roads, namely that problems could be created for the ACT, and helmets should be compulsory on main roads only; and that it would be both impossible and inappropriate to police the wearing of helmets on cycle paths in Canberra, leading to the creation of an unenforceable law and the adverse social consequences associated with encouraging law breaking.
(4) Have the Minister or the Department requested from the Commonwealth its reasons for including compulsory bicycle helmets in its offer; if so, with what result.
(5) Are you aware of findings by the Australian Institute of Criminology that punitive laws are relatively ineffectual as a means of inducing young people to adopt desired behaviour, and has your Department investigated positive inducement for the wearing of helmets; if so, with what result.
(6) Consistent with the principles of participatory democracy espoused by the Chief Minister on 25 September 1991 and at other times, what steps have you taken to consult with cyclists on the question of compulsory helmets.
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