Page 4662 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 19 October 2011
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Mrs Dunne.
MRS DUNNE: Minister, what representations have you received from the disability community about using modified segways for all-terrain access for people with disabilities, and what consideration have you given to allowing the use of segways in these circumstances?
MR CORBELL: I am aware that there are some individuals in the ACT who wish to be able to use the segway for the purposes of their personal mobility because of their disability. I have certainly received at least one representation in relation to that matter. These are matters that will be dealt with as part of the review. Obviously now that the exemption has been granted the question is legitimately raised: if you are prepared to exempt there, are you prepared to exempt in other circumstances?
I understand that, while that question is being raised, the obvious issues that need to be addressed around that are the issues that arise from why segways are not currently permitted on roads or road-related areas here in Australia—because of their speed and because of the interaction that potentially they could have which is unsafe with pedestrians, cyclists or others.
I think it is worth testing some of those assumptions. I think it is worth looking at those issues. That is why I have commissioned the review. The issues that Mrs Dunne raises in relation to the use of these devices by those with mobility problems are ones that I think and expect will be dealt with as part of that review.
MS PORTER: A supplementary.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Ms Porter.
MS PORTER: Could the minister tell the Assembly what steps will be taken to give long-term certainty for segway use in the ACT?
MR CORBELL: I thank Ms Porter for her supplementary. I think it is worth reiterating that of course the process of the review will allow us to reach a definitive conclusion about the operation of segways in some form, either in the current form or in an expanded form. That is the process that will help us to reach that decision. The review is designed to engage with a broad range of stakeholders because there will be a variety of views about the appropriateness of the use of these devices. Obviously the reason they have not been permitted to be used in road and road-related areas in Australia is concerns about their potential impact on pedestrian safety as well as on cyclists’ safety and that of other road users. But that is a matter which I think deserves to be more closely looked at.
Obviously the exemption that has been granted for the devices in the central basin tries to address these issues to a degree by limiting the speed that the devices are able to travel at, so limiting them at approximately, if I recall correctly, 10 or 12 kilometres an hour. Their maximum speed is 20 or so kilometres an hour. So there are steps that we have already taken to take account of pedestrian safety and these are issues that will be further addressed as part of the review.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video