Janet Rice (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes:

(i) the tragic death of a cyclist in Melbourne on Friday, 27 February 2015 involving a 'car dooring' incident,

(ii) the work of Australian cycling advocates in hosting the Australian Bicycle Summit at Parliament House, in the week beginning 1 March 2015, calling for infrastructure, safety and health measures that will increase the number of Australians cycling,

(iii) the importance of cycling as a healthy, clean and efficient mode of transport for Australians of all ages, and

(iv) the National Cycling Strategy endorsed by ministers in 2010, which aims to aims to double the rate of participation in cycling between 2011 and 2016; and

(b) calls on the Government to follow the lead of the United Kingdom Government which recently adopted a national walking and cycling investment strategy, including specific time bound objectives and funding allocated to achieve those objectives.

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government shares Senator Rice's concern for cycling safety and does note the tragic death of the 25-year-old cyclist in Melbourne. Similarly, the Abbott government welcomes the work of Australian cycling advocates, many of whom visited Canberra this week for the Australian Bicycle Summit and the Big Canberra Bike Ride.

However, under the federal system the Commonwealth has a particular role in planning. Senator Rice needs to recognise the division of labour between the jurisdictions and the significant investment in infrastructure that the Commonwealth makes, a proportion of which is already in place to support cycling paths. The government cannot support this motion, but there are significant investments delivered in our commitment to reduce the road toll and support the development of bicycle paths.

Question agreed to.