Jason Falinski (Mackellar, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise today to acknowledge the service of Dr Michael Henderson, who was appointed an officer of the Order of Australia earlier this year. Dr Henderson was recognised for the significant contributions he made to motor vehicle and motorsport safety and preventing road trauma. Dr Henderson first began his career in the RAAF, an experience which ignited a passion for the prevention of injury in aircraft crashes. This led to an interest in preventing injury concerning motor vehicles. In 1968, Dr Henderson joined a project team which designed a concept safety Formula One, outlining innovation which became foundational for later Formula One regulations. He later joined a research group formed by the New South Wales Department of Motor Transport and served as director of Traffic Safety in New South Wales. In this role, he drafted legislation which led to the enforcement of seatbelts in Australia along with other crucial innovations in road safety. This work influenced significant change and prevented many accidents on the road. Thanks to Dr Henderson's work, Australia became a leader in road safety, and I thank him for his commitment to vehicle and road safety, which has undoubtedly saved thousands of lives. It is both an honour and privilege to have somebody of Dr Michael Henderson's capacity and ability and contribution to our society living on the Northern Beaches of Sydney.