Joint select committee to review actions to reduce road trauma
The federal government has announced a new joint select committee on Road Safety and its focus on reporting on the effectiveness of existing road safety programs and investments.
Led by Committee chair and Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien, the committee will comprise nine members from across parliament.
Among other matters, the Committee will inquire into and report upon:
- the effectiveness of existing road safety support services and programs, including opportunities to integrate Safe System principles into health, education, industry and transport policy
- the impact of road trauma on the nation, including the importance of achieving zero deaths and serious injuries in remote and regional areas
- measures to ensure state, territory and local government road infrastructure investment incorporates the Safe System principles road trauma and incident data collection and coordination across Australia
- other measures to support the Australian Parliament’s ongoing resolve to reduce incidents on roads.
“The Joint Select Committee will thoroughly examine the effectiveness of existing road safety support services and programs, including opportunities to integrate Safe System principles into health, education, industry and transport policy,” transport minister Michael McCormack says.
“The committee will also look at the importance of achieving zero deaths and serious injuries across Australia, but especially in remote and regional areas.
“It will also consider recommendations for the role of the newly established Office of Road Safety.”
Read about the $2.2 billion federal funding for road and heavy vehicle safety, here
Assistant minister for road safety and freight transport Scott Buchholz adds: “This is all about evaluating action to date and how to accelerate progress toward fewer deaths and serious injuries on Australian roads into the future.
“There is great opportunity for road safety and the Safe System approach to be better integrated into related policy areas. The committee will also carefully evaluate the possible establishment of a future parliamentary Standing Committee on Road Safety and what its functions may be.”
O’Brien says he will be taking a strong interest in enhanced coordination between different levels of government, including infrastructure investment priorities.
“As a former police officer, I know too well the horrific impact road accidents have on families right across the country,” O’Brien says.
“The new committee will be looking into measures to ensure state, territory and local government road infrastructure investment incorporates the Safe System principles road trauma and incident data collection and coordination across Australia.
“We will also consider any other measures to support the Australian Parliament’s ongoing resolve to reduce incidents on our roads.”
The committee will present an interim report by March 30, 2020 and its final report by July 31, 2020.