Page 3444 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 22 August 2018

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disproportionately over-represented in crash statistics. However, he failed to acknowledge that there are other demographic groups who are also over-represented. In New South Wales in the past year drivers in their 40s outnumbered 17 to 25-year-olds in fatal accidents. Analysis of accidents in Queensland from 2004 to 2009 found that drivers in their 90s were just as likely as those in their early 20s to be involved in accidents. And, as I stated earlier, middle-aged men are shown to be the most dangerous on our roads.

My point remains: if the minister truly wanted to improve road safety for all road users, why are restrictions not being placed on these demographics as well? Why are young people being unfairly targeted by this government?

I thank Mr Steel for his history lesson in Liberal Party policy and his ridiculous assertions that parties cannot change policy positions over the course of a decade and a half. I also reject Mr Steel’s claim that the Labor Party have always held a consistent position on this issue. I remind him that we only have to go back five years, not 14 years, to find the last time that these issues were discussed in this place, when Mr Gentleman—yes, a Labor minister—put forward a proposal which included the introduction of passenger restrictions.

Quite astonishingly, a number of members of the Labor Party have spoken out against these changes and have today in the chamber expressed quite strong opposition to these measures, and yet they have all said that they would not be supporting my motion. This demonstrates just how easily those opposite continue to say one thing but do another.

This reflects a broader story in ACT politics. It is a story of growing nanny state-ism, more burdensome rules and regulations and greater restrictions on our everyday freedoms. But it is also a story of a Labor government constantly at the mercy of the ACT Greens. It is a story of a Labor government that are so desperate to cling to power that they will throw our young people, young workers that they so often claim to protect, under the bus just to appease the Greens. That is assuming that they have not already cut the buses.

Question put:

That Mr Steel’s amendment to Mr Rattenbury’s proposed amendment be agreed to.

The Assembly voted—

Amendment agreed to.

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