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Labor spins while the Coalition listens

While Labor tries to spin and spend its way out of a cost of living crisis, the Coalition is focused on finding real solutions to this crisis.

The Cost of Living Committee is holding a hearing in Gladstone to hear how Labor’s dual cost of living and cost of doing business crises is impacting the regions.

Chair of the Committee, Senator Jane Hume, will hear from local business groups and Master Builders Australia about Labor’s industrial relations changes. Senator Hume will seek to understand how Labor’s anti-productivity agenda and high energy prices have impacted their ability to deliver lower prices for consumers.

The Committee will also hear evidence from the Gladstone Regional Council and Gladstone Women’s Health Centre, as well as not-for-profit organisation Aussie Helpers, about how the cost of living crisis is taking its toll on the community.

Senator Hume said that while the Albanese Government has been focused on the wrong priorities, Australian households, particularly those in regional Australia, have been left behind.

“The Prime Minister has finally admitted that Labor’s policies to tackle the cost of living haven’t worked. But he’s still not listening. With Australian households hurting, the Coalition will continue to pursue finding sensible solutions to Labor’s cost of living crisis.

“Everywhere we go, from suburban Melbourne to Port Augusta to Alice Springs, we hear that cost of living is the number one issue facing Australian households and businesses. Yet Labor has no plan to help them.

“Labor knows the Australian public can see through their spin on the cost of living, that’s why they’re looking to spend $40 million on a PR campaign to explain why they lied.

“Australians are paying the price for a government that has no economic plan and can’t keep its promises.”

Senator Matt Canavan said Labor’s policies are pushing up the cost of doing business, and have already cost 1000 nickel jobs in WA.

“It’s only a matter of time before our aluminium, and other manufacturers start to struggle under the weight of the extra costs of policies like the safeguard mechanism.

“We need to be listening to these businesses, and make sure that they can keep people employed in Central Queensland.”

The full Cost of Living Committee program is available here: https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Cost_of_Living/costofliving/Public_Hearings.

Albo delivers illegal boats and hollow GST promises to WA

Anthony Albanese’s claims that he will not touch Western Australia’s GST are completely worthless because they come from a Prime Minister who breaks his promises, particularly when it involves tax.

The Prime Minister’s weakness on protecting our borders, despite his claims to the contrary, has also been exposed with the arrival of an illegal boat in Western Australia.

The Prime Minister and the Treasurer promised more than 100 times they would deliver the stage 3 tax cuts but have gone back on their word, leaving the important piece of taxation reform in tatters.

“If the Prime Minister and Labor can perpetrate such a huge lie, how can anyone ever believe anything they say, ever again?” Senator Cash said.

“Western Australians certainly should not believe him when he talks about not touching the GST deal, delivered by the previous Coalition Government which finally gave our State a fair share,’’ she said.

“Mr Albanese’s word is worthless. Watch him fold to pressure from other States and come after our GST money when he needs it,’’ Senator Cash said.

Mr Albanese has become the liar in the Lodge. Before the election, he promised a $275 reduction in people’s power bills, “cheaper mortgages”, and he promised that families would be “better off” under him. Yet in just 18 months: Food has gone up more than 9%; housing has gone up more than 12%; electricity has gone up more than 23%; gas has gone up more than 29% and rents are experiencing the highest increase since 2009.

“If the best Mr Albanese can do for Western Australia is leave our coastline vulnerable to people smugglers and offer hollow promises about our rightful share of the GST then I’m not sure why he’s bothering to come here,’’ Senator Cash said.

“He can pretend all he likes that he cares about Western Australia but those words count for nothing coming from a PM who keeps breaking promises,’’ she said

Labor’s family car tax will put thousands of dollars on the price of new cars Australians love to drive

The cost of popular SUVs, utes and 4WDs will be forced up by thousands of dollars from next year to help the Albanese Government subsidise the price of individuals buying electric vehicles, according to car industry research released at the weekend.

Industry analysis of Energy Minister Chris Bowen’s proposed New Vehicle Efficiency Standard predicts the cost of some popular models such as the Toyota Landcruiser could rise as much as $25,000.

“During a cost-of-living crisis, the last thing people want to hear is that the price of a new family car or a new ute for a tradie is going to be forced up to subsidise EVs,” Senator McKenzie said.

“If you’re a tradie and you’re buying vehicles such as a BT-50 or a D-Max or a HiLux or a Ranger, the Albanese Government’s family car tax is going to drive up the cost of purchasing that vehicle.”

Australia’s top three best-selling vehicles in 2023 were utes, with each facing a carbon penalty of up to $17,950 for the Ford Ranger, $14,490 for the Toyota Hi-lux and $13,830 for the Isuzu D-Max respectively by 2029.

According to the analysis by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries many hybrid vehicles will exceed Labor’s carbon targets, and be forced to pay or offset penalties, including the popular Toyota RAV4 which will face up to $4,890 in penalties by 2029.

Senator McKenzie said the cars that the penalty would apply to are the most popular family cars seen during school pick-up and drop offs or at sporting events at the weekend.

“The proposed Vehicle Efficiency Standard is a direct hit on popular models that Australians love to drive,” Senator McKenzie said.

“Everyone wants to see cleaner, more efficient cars and utes as we do our bit toward reducing emissions by 2050, but the trajectory under Mr Bowen’s preferred plan will put so many cars out of reach of family budgets.”

Labor claims the new Vehicle Efficiency Standard will result in lower running costs for new cars – but not if families can’t afford to buy them.

“Families are already struggling under Labor’s cost of living crisis and the last thing they need is yet another expense on top of spiralling energy costs, increases to mortgages and skyrocketing grocery bills” said Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy Ted O’Brien.

“As for Chris Bowen claiming this tax is a cost-of-living measure, it’s yet another Labor lie.

“Slapping thousands of dollars on to the purchase price of the most popular family vehicles only makes life harder for middle Australia.

“Chris Bowen is the dodgiest car salesman in Australia. This is the same Minister who promised a $275 reduction in your power bills – which have now risen $1000 – and now he’s promising cheaper cars when the industry is forecasting price hikes of up to $25,000.

“A cleaner and more efficient transport fleet is an important part of reducing emissions, but Labor’s proposal fails to get the balance right between price, consumer choice and emissions – and it will be everyday Aussie families wearing the costs” Mr O’Brien said.

By making new cars more expensive to buy, Labor will force many families to keep their current car for longer, or choose a second-hand car, resulting in an older and less efficient national fleet.

Labor’s secrecy causes stress and uncertainty for aged car sector

The Albanese Labor Government continues to shroud the future of the aged care sector in secrecy as more than two months have passed since the Government received their sustainability report.

Senate Estimates confirmed that the final report from their Aged Care Sustainability Taskforce was completed and provided to the Government before Christmas. However, despite being months behind on their deadline, Labor continues hiding the report from the Australian public.

The level of secrecy around the outcome of the Taskforce is astounding, with even the Government’s own acting Inspector General of Aged Care revealing that he has not received a briefing on the report despite requesting one.

Labor’s continued refusal to be transparent with the report has reaffirmed suspicions that it is concealing plans for financing the aged care sector until after the Dunkley by-election.

This deliberate delay creates additional stress for providers, who already have to grapple with serious financial pressures caused by an unaddressed workforce shortfall.

Over the last quarter, we have only seen an additional 44 nurses enter the aged care workforce, which means almost 6,000 additional nurses are needed before October 2024 to implement new mandated staffing requirements.

Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care, Senator Anne Ruston, said that the Coalition understands the pressures aged care provider face under Labor.

“Estimates revealed that 30% of aged care providers are already failing to meet current care requirements, and we are seriously concerned that this will only get worse from October as the Government continues to sit on their hands.

“The fact that Labor has not managed to reduce the staffing shortfall by even 1% shows critical failings in their approach to the current challenges.

“The last thing that aged care providers need when they are trying to care for our older Australians is for the Government to inflict even greater uncertainty on them regarding their future financing and sustainability,” Shadow Minister Ruston said.

The Coalition is calling on the Albanese Labor Government to be transparent about their plans for the aged care sector by releasing the Taskforce’s report. Otherwise, we are left to ask – What are they hiding?

New technology to help shake off crowding when Taylor comes to town

As more than 80,000 fans descend on Accor Stadium each night of the Eras Tour, new AI technology will be used to ensure Swifties are safe, calm and moving smoothly for the massive event.

Staff at Sydney Olympic Park and Transport for NSW will be working hard behind the scenes on each of the 4 nights, acting as eyes in the sky to support crowd control at the stadium’s high-tech coordination centre.

The AI program combines features such as de-identified CCTV footage, weather data and social media to accurately predict crowd movements and mood around the stadium.

This allows teams to prevent problems before they occur and implement a range of measures like opening more exits, redirecting people, giving live updates, deploying more staff or playing music to keep the mood up.

This will be the biggest test yet for the trial, which kicked off in 2023 as part of the NSW Government’s $45 million Smart Places Acceleration Program.

The technology has been successfully used for other events including the recent Laneway Festival and Big Bash League cricket.

Signs with QR codes have been placed around the stadium for people keen to learn more about the technology and provide feedback. 

The trial has been rigorously assessed under the NSW Government’s AI Assurance Framework to ensure the use of the new technology is ethical and real benefits are delivered to the community without compromising privacy or data security.

How to get to the concert and home swiftly:

Public transport is not only the most efficient way to get to the event, but we are making it part of the concert experience.

  • A total of more than 1200 extra public transport services will run across the 4 nights.
  • This includes more than 700 extra buses and 550 extra trains.
  • Tay Tay Express Train Services will run from Central to Olympic Park every 8 minutes until 10:30pm then every 5 minutes until 1am.
  • Central Station will shimmer as the concourse is decorated and the clock tower will be lit in a lavender haze for the occasion.
  • The Eras Tour will continue onboard, with Taylor tracks to be played on the Swift Express runs.

Minister for Transport Jo Haylen said:

“The Taylor Swift Eras Tour will be one of the biggest ever turn-outs at Sydney Olympic Park, with unprecedented crowd levels expected inside and outside the stadium.

“Crowds of this magnitude can be unpredictable, and we want to do everything we can to make sure people are safe and comfortable while moving around.

“The shows will be unforgettable for tens of thousands of Swifties, and this technology will help staff ensure the mood stays positive even when people are stuck in foot traffic leaving the venue after the superstar has belted her final note.

“These kinds of events are a huge test for our public transport network, and I want to thank Swifties in advance for their patience and understanding, and our frontline staff for their massive efforts.

“Embracing world-class technology is essential to making people’s journeys easier, safer and more reliable than ever before.”

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“This new technology provides real-time insights, to help make every experience at Sydney Olympic Park a great one.

“With large events drawing crowds of more than 10 million visitors to the precinct each year, it’s important we use state-of-the-art tools to inform operations, keep people comfortable and avoid serious incidents.

“The software gives precinct staff an idea of crowd movements and capacities. It cannot be used for surveillance, tracking, or facial recognition, meaning individuals are never identifiable.”

Mammoth project to improve resilience along key western road corridors

A record amount of slope remediation and stabilisation work will take place this year to improve resilience along major roads through the Blue Mountains and Hawkesbury, starting this month with work on the Bells Line of Road.

Funding for the works is being provided by the Albanese and Minns governments through the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

This major effort to improve road safety will begin with remediation work at Mount Tomah from Monday 26 February, and it will be followed by remediation of 2 slope failures at Kurrajong Heights in March.

Federal Minister for Emergency Management Murray Watt said the works were focused on improving safety at multiple locations and enhancing the overall resilience of major road corridors.

“As most motorists would be aware, some slopes along the corridor were damaged by torrential rainfall between 2021 and 2022 that wrought havoc on the road network,” Minister Watt said.

“These works are about helping to improve the public road network and other critical assets so communities aren’t impacted as severely when more frequent weather events strike

NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said the primary area of focus will be Bells Line of Road, which is an important transport link for communities in the Blue Mountains, Hawkesbury and Central West.

“We have completed emergency work at 3 locations around the Botanic Gardens at Mt Tomah, while work to remediate a fourth site just west of the gardens should take place later this year,” Minister Aitchison said.

“Stabilisation work is also well under way to the slope failure on the Great Western Highway near Fairy Bower Road in Mount Victoria.

“This latest work kicking off will further remediate separate slopes at Mt Tomah and Kurrajong Heights – and with work beginning to address another slope failure at Victoria Pass in mid-2024, we are really improving safety at multiple locations and enhancing the overall resilience of the corridors.

“Other areas we will work on this year include Putty Road, which is another vital transport link for Blue Mountains and Lower Hunter communities, the Great Western Highway and Hawkesbury Road.

Federal Member for Macquarie Susan Templeman said local residents recognised the need for this work to ensure they have a reliable and resilient road.

“We have seen through bushfires, storms and floods just how vital the Bells Line of Road is for locals, including the businesses who rely on customers being able to reach them. And it’s also vital as one of 2 direct links between Sydney and the central west.

“I note that this disaster recovery funding is on top of the $100 million that we have provided to NSW for additional upgrades to Bells Line of Road.

“We need this road to be safe and reliable, and that’s what the Albanese government will continue to work with the NSW Minns government to achieve.”

State Member for Blue Mountains Trish Doyle welcomed the works.

“Road stabilisation and safety improvements to address damage caused by natural disasters in and around the Blue Mountains is essential and welcomed.

“In acknowledging the disruptions this may cause my community at times, I’m pleased to see the NSW and Commonwealth Governments working together and making good on our commitments to road safety.”

Remediation methods such as rock bolting, shotcreting and steel mesh installation will ensure the slopes are less likely to pose a hazard for road users.

While this work is essential for improving resilience and safety and will be coordinated to minimise inconvenience wherever possible, it also unfortunately means localised traffic delays will be unavoidable for much of the year.

Traffic impacts will include up to 3 separate lane closures along Bells Line of Road for much of 2024, and up to 2 lane closures along Putty Road mostly from the second quarter of this year.

Most remediation work will take place between 7am and 6pm Monday to Friday and, less frequently, on Saturday mornings. This will be communicated as necessary.

No work will take place on Sundays or public holidays, unless otherwise communicated. Portable boom gates will be used while work takes place to close lanes. Vehicles will be diverted into a single-lane with stop-start traffic control.

There will be traffic controllers and a reduced speed limit of 40km/h for the safety of workers and road users. 

More information on the program can be found on the Transport for NSW website.

Two new Sentencing Council members appointed

Attorney General Michael Daley today announced the appointment of two new members to the NSW Sentencing Council, Melissa Burgess and Adam Hennessy.

Ms Burgess is committed to delivering reform to create better outcomes for Aboriginal people in the criminal justice system and brings a strategic, collaborative and results-driven approach to the Sentencing Council.

For the past 17 years she has worked in the criminal justice system as a solicitor with the Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT) and Legal Aid NSW, including as Deputy Director of the Criminal Law Division since 2022.

Ms Burgess has been appointed to the statutory position of member with expertise or experience in Aboriginal justice matters.

Throughout his career Mr Hennessy has been dedicated to addressing the unique challenges facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and is committed to promoting fairness in the criminal justice system.

For the past decade he has worked in a range of areas, including state and federal public sectors, mental health and academia. Prior to that, Mr Hennessy worked with NSW Police for thirteen years as a lecturer and program coordinator teaching students and running training courses.

Mr Hennessy has been appointed to the statutory position of member representing the general community.

The Sentencing Council advises the Attorney General on sentencing matters, including undertaking consultation and reporting on issues referred to it by the Attorney General and providing an Annual Report on sentencing trends and practices. It comprises 16 members with diverse experience, including judicial officers, prosecutors, criminal defence lawyers, police, victims’ advocates and members of the community.

The appointments follow a public recruitment process in 2023 and both members will serve for three years.

Find out more about the Sentencing Council

Attorney General Michael Daley said:

“I would like to congratulate Ms Burgess and Mr Hennessy on their appointments to the Sentencing Council.

“The Sentencing Council plays a vital role in delivering justice in NSW and both individuals will bring a rich range of skills and experience to their positions. I would like to thank them for joining the Sentencing Council.”

$3.5 million boost for koala care in regional NSW

The NSW Government is delivering on its commitment to provide additional support to wildlife hospitals, koala protection and research with more than $3.5 million in new funding provided to three regional wildlife care facilities.

Koalas in the state’s north will have a more secure future with $1.4 million allocated to complete construction of the Northern Rivers Wildlife Hospital in Wollongbar.

Friends of the Koala, based in Lismore, will receive a $110,000 grant to vaccinate 300 koalas against chlamydia, and develop a koala database.

This funding builds on previous NSW Government commitments to protect koalas in the northern rivers from vehicle strike and degraded habitats.

Grants totalling $460,000 were awarded to Richmond Valley, Ballina, Lismore, Tweed and Clarence Valley councils for signage to alert drivers to slow down and watch for koalas in vehicle strike hotspots.

Koala habitat restoration is also underway in the Northern Rivers region, with $810,000 invested to restore 660 hectares across private land and national park estate.

In addition to grants for Northern Rivers Wildlife Hospital and Friends of the Koala, the NSW Labor Government is providing a $2 million grant to Port Stephens Koala Hospital to increase wildlife veterinary capacity.

The NSW Government is committed to ensuring the long-term survival of koalas in the wild and each partnership with councils, land managers, community organisation and wildlife groups is an important step toward achieving that goal.

Minister for Climate Change and the Environment Penny Sharpe said:

“There are many reasons why a koala may be taken into care, including vehicle strike and disease.

“The NSW Government is taking steps to prevent koalas needing to be in veterinary care, and this funding helps to ensure that native wildlife have the best possible outcome when treated and returned to the wild.

“It is important that koalas have a bright future in NSW.”

Member for Port Stephens Kate Washington said:

“Koalas are a much-loved member of our community, and an iconic part of our region.

“This funding is a welcome announcement for our community which cares deeply for koalas and will greatly assist the amazing army of volunteers at Port Stephens Koala Hospital.

“Together we can help secure the future of koalas and other wildlife in our beautiful part of the world.”

Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin said:

“The Northern Rivers Wildlife Hospital is wonderful. We have already turned the first sod but this $1.4 million in funding ensures its place within our network of native wildlife care.

“Our local communities love our iconic koalas and the $110,000 in funding will help protect them against chlamydia, and importantly, keep track of them.

“Friends of the Koala in East Lismore is a fantastic organisation, professional, with compassionate and competent volunteers.

“I am proud to have advocated for and secured funding for these projects and very pleased to join Minister Sharpe to announce them here in the electorate.”

More than 175,000 people avoid emergency departments

More than 175,000 people seeking non-life threatening medical care have avoided NSW hospital emergency departments (EDs), Healthdirect data from NSW Health reveals.

More than 315,000 people in NSW contacted Healthdirect between 1 January and 31 December 2023.

Of these, more than half – or over 175,000 people – were referred to a healthcare service other than the ED or Triple Zero (000):

  • 90,474 were referred to a GP;
  • 35,243 were referred to virtual care or urgent care;
  • 3,412 were referred to virtualKIDS care (a statewide service since 19 Dec 2023);
  • 9,682 were referred to other pathways, such as pharmacies or allied health;
  • 18,095 were provided with information; and
  • 19,229 were provided guidance on self-care at home.

The NSW Government is encouraging people to contact Healthdirect for all non-emergency medical queries.

By phoning Healthdirect on 1800 022 222, callers will speak with a registered nurse. From there, the nurse can refer them to a GP, virtual or urgent care; a pharmacist or allied health professional; or provide guidance on how to care for their condition from home.

The NSW Health Single Front Door, delivered by Healthdirect, is a critical initiative providing alternatives to emergency department care. It is part of a broader range of measures the NSW Government is undertaking to ease pressure on EDs and improve the accessibility of appropriate care, including:

  • Rolling out 25 urgent care services.
  • Establishing the emergency department taskforce to explore ways to safely reduce ED wait times.
  • Boosting staff and treatment spaces.

Quotes attributable to NSW Minister for Health Ryan Park:

“We don’t want to see people and their loved ones waiting around emergency departments for lengthy periods of time – it’s not good for them, our staff, or other patients.

“All patients are seen and triaged on arrival at the ED and, as always, the most seriously unwell patients are treated first. During busy times, those with less urgent conditions can experience longer wait times when there are large numbers of seriously unwell patients being prioritised for emergency care.

“We are embracing new and innovative ways to relieve pressure on our emergency departments by diverting unnecessary presentations.

“When you phone Healthdirect, you will speak to a qualified registered nurse who can organise an appointment with a GP for you, have a GP give you a ring, or guide you on how to care for your condition from your home.

“We want the Healthdirect number to be as second nature as Triple 0.”

Road experts gather in Sydney for safety’s sake

Road safety experts from Australia and overseas, along with advocates for motorists and road victims will today gather at the NSW Government’s 2024 Road Safety Forum.

More than 90 experts are being brought under the same roof for the first time – and many more joining online – to focus on ways to improve safety on roads right across NSW.

Like all other Australian states, NSW has experienced a rise in fatalities on our roads since the COVID era and the forum will be an invaluable setting to consider solutions and innovations, drawing on the experience of Scandinavian countries that have had success in lowering their road tolls over the past decade or more.

The NSW Government is determined to co-operate with the Commonwealth on the national conversation on road safety, with a particular focus on data sharing among the states.

The Government has this week agreed to begin sharing crash information with motoring group NRMA to ensure continued transparency of road safety trends in NSW.

The forum’s keynote address is to be delivered by Dr Johan Strandroth who was instrumental in the implementation of Sweden’s “Vision Zero” approach which has been credited with lowering fatalities there since its introduction in the late 1990s.

According to the Australian Government, Sweden has the second lowest road fatality rate in the world behind only Norway. Australia was ranked 18 out of 31 OECD nations.

A key focus of today’s forum will be regional road safety and the effect of speeding, drink and drug driving. A third of the NSW population resides in regional areas, but just over two-thirds of the state’s road fatalities take place in our regions, including urban centres in regional areas.

The NSW Labor Government has been active in introducing new road safety measures, including the expanded use of mobile phone detection cameras that will this year begin enforcing the use of seatbelts.

The Government has also pioneered the carrot-and-stick approach through the demerit point scheme. More than 1.2 million NSW drivers will be rewarded with having a demerit point removed from their licence from April in return for maintaining a spotless record for 12 months from 17 January 2023.  

In conjunction with the forum, Transport for NSW is running an online survey to allow the public to have a say on a range of road safety topics.  

Have your say on road safety until 4pm Wednesday 6 March 2024

Minister for Roads John Graham said:

“NSW is pleased to host this most important forum and I look forward to hearing from the most pre-eminent experts from Australia but also from countries that have had success in reducing fatalities on their roads in recent decades.

“Road fatalities have increased across Australia and many parts of the world after Covid. This forum is an opportunity to tap into the best ideas to counter that trend and make sure everyone gets home to their loved ones every time.

“The enhanced sharing and use of data around road crashes is an important element in improving safety in NSW and other states which is why our Memorandum of Understanding to share more information with the NRMA is another advance that we can build on.

“I want to remind the wider community that your input into this important issue is welcome and urge you to take part in the online survey being run in conjunction with today’s forum.”

Minister for Police and Counter Terrorism Yasmin Catley said:

“Today’s forum is an important opportunity to collaborate and share ideas to help reduce fatalities and improve safety on our roads.

“I’m acutely aware that too many people are getting behind the wheel of a vehicle, or in the passenger seat, and never coming home.

“Every life lost on our roads is a tragedy and has a lasting impact on not only the friends, families and communities of those involved but on our first responders who attend far too many fatal incidents.

“The NSW Police Force are out there day and night working to protect the community but they can’t do it alone. Everyone has a role to play when it comes to keeping our roads safe.

“Everyone has a responsibility to themselves, their passengers and other roads users every time they get behind the wheel.”

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said:

“Today is an important day in NSW road safety history, as we gather together many different experts and stakeholders in the road safety space for the first time.

“Any death on our roads is a tragedy and as Regional Roads Minister I am particularly concerned that more than two thirds of these deaths take place on regional roads.

“We know country driving can be challenging – drivers in regional areas often drive longer distances on higher speed roads compared to those driving in the city. We know they’re often in older vehicles and environmental factors such as roadside hazards and bends in the road mean that a poor decision or mistake can be fatal.

“This is a conversation that I have been having across regional NSW since I came to office. I look forward to hearing the expert advice and to continue to work with rural, remote and regional communities to improve road safety in country NSW.

“Road safety is a shared responsibility and I urge every single road user to help us make sure everyone makes it home safely.”

Senator Carol Brown, Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport said:

“Today’s road safety forum is an invaluable gathering that I hope will provide ideas and outcomes can be carried through to the National Road Safety Conference coming up.

“Road safety is everyone’s responsibility- from local, state and territory governments as well as the Australian Government and individual road users.

“The National Road Safety Conference has been convened to bring together Road Safety Ministers and Police Ministers from across the country to engage on the worrying trends we are seeing on our roads.”