Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

At the request of Senators Sterle and Gallacher, I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) 18 November 2018 is the United Nations World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims (WDR) – a day to remember the many millions killed and injured on the world's roads, together with their families, friends and many others who are also affected,

(ii) it is also a Day on which we thank the emergency services and reflect on the tremendous burden and cost of this daily continuing disaster to families, communities and countries, and on ways to halt it,

(iii) during the calendar year of 2017, there were 1224 road deaths in Australia and more than 35,000 seriously injured on our roads,

(iv) in 2018 alone, there have been 874 deaths on Australia's roads, and

(v) the annual economic cost of road crashes in Australia is approximately $30 billion per year;

(b) acknowledges the work of Mr Peter Frazer as President of Safer Australian Roads and Highways, and his advocacy for road safety and passion in encouraging all Australians to drive so others survive; and

(c) calls on the Federal Government to work with stakeholders and Parliament to make our roads, vehicles and all road users safe.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government acknowledges the United Nations World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims and the invaluable work of emergency services across the globe in responding to and assisting those in need. Road safety is a key priority of this government. No-one should be killed or seriously injured on our roads. The government commends the work of Mr Peter Frazer in his tireless advocacy in the promotion of road safety across the country. The government commissioned an independent inquiry into the effectiveness of the National Road Safety Strategy 2011-2020, which was released in September. The government will continue to work with key road safety stakeholders, all levels of government and the parliament. To this end, the Deputy Prime Minister recently wrote to all members of parliament and senators and chaired a discussion with his state transport ministerial counterparts.

Question agreed to.