Page 3418 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 22 August 2018
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P-plate restrictions that we are discussing today. It is interesting to see the Liberals’ change of policy in their motion today. I am sure that Mrs Dunne was fully supportive of her then Liberal colleague in the Assembly, Mr Steve Pratt, who was the spokesperson on road safety. It was the Canberra Liberals who were the original advocates for greater P-plate restrictions in this Assembly and who showed a lack of respect for P-platers in the ACT.
In a press release from the Liberal Party tabled in this place by then Labor backbencher Mr Gentleman, the Liberal spokesperson said:
… P-plate drivers have little respect for the laws governing driver behaviour and are little concerned about the dangers to themselves and others …The Opposition has been calling on the … Government … for stricter … licensing conditions for P-platers and therefore urges the government to examine … Night time curfews placed on P-plate drivers.”
It has been the Liberals all along that have been pushing government to look at greater restrictions on P-platers in our city. I seek leave to table these documents.
Leave granted.
MR STEEL: I table the following papers:
P-plate drivers—Copies of news articles from the Canberra Liberals website, by Steve Pratt MLA—
Opposition calls on Government to review youth driving regulations, dated 24 October 2006.
Pool crash proves P-plate program failing, dated 31 July 2007.
In contrast, the consistent position of our side has always been to have the utmost concern for the evidence on road safety reforms and for civil liberties. I note that our then Labor transport minister, Mr John Hargreaves, in response to questions from the Liberals, on 9 December 2004 said:
I have received advice that curfews would be problematic in the ACT given the necessarily reduced levels of public transport during curfew periods and lack of support from the community. Curfews would be unlikely to significantly impact on crash rates as the vast majority of crashes occur on weekdays between 6am and 8pm.
So Labor has always held a consistent position, supporting and encouraging young people to gain experience and take responsibility without infringing their rights and responsibilities.
Madam Speaker, in conclusion, I want to say that the trauma of a road accident on victims and their families should not be treated lightly. I know that very, very personally. But reforms to P-plate licensing to improve safety need to be balanced with the right of responsible young drivers to freely move around our city. I believe there is merit in making sure that our youngest drivers gain more experience before
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