Doorstop - University of Western Australia Centre for Road Safety Research

ANTHONY CHISHOLM [ASSISTANT MINISTER]: Firstly, thanks to the University of Western Australia and the Vice Chancellor for the opportunity to be here today and to see the important work that they do. It’s a real pleasure to also speak today about the $107 million that the Federal Government is contributing to road safety here in regional Western Australia. And we’re partnering with the Western Australian State Government on that to achieve 42 improvements in the road network across Western Australia. I’m from a big state, but I know Western Australia is a bigger state, and I know that for many people living in rural and remote locations, getting around by car is just a fact of life. Whether it’s for work or pleasure, or picking the kids up from school or taking them to sport, we need to ensure that our road network is as safe as possible. So that’s why we need to invest money, work collaboratively with the State Government to identify those spots that need improvement, and that’s what this program does. So we’re really pleased to support that today. I think the other part that’s really important, and that’s what Dr Matt talked about earlier; the fact that when we’re spending money, we want to make sure that it’s making a difference. And that’s what I think the important work that they do here at the University of Western Australia ensures that the money that we’re spending, in collaboration with the State Government, goes to those improvements that are going to save lives, minimise injuries, and that’s what we all need to do.

JOURNALIST: And this $107 million investment, this is new as of today?

CHISHOLM: New money, and this will go to 42 projects identified by the state that will help those road improvements. So it might be widening. It might be those rumble strips we’ve heard about today. But what it will do is make a difference in those regional and rural communities, keep people safe, and that’s what we all want.

JOURNALIST: Do you have an idea on where these 42 projects are? Are they like more in the north or south or?

CHISHOLM: They’re spread throughout the state and they are available on the website now and we can provide a list of those as well. But they’re spread throughout the state and they’ll make an important difference.

JOURNALIST: And I guess from the comments that we’ve heard before, why install all these rumble strips?

CHISHOLM: Well, as we heard from Dr Matt, they’re making a difference. They’re helping to save lives and minimise injuries now. And we know that can make a difference. That’s why we need to ensure that we’re investing in those things that will improve those outcomes, and that’s what this collaboration is all about with the State Government.

JOURNALIST: And WA is on its way, I guess this year, to have a decade high road death toll. Is the Federal Government thinking of any more new initiatives to try and combat this?

CHISHOLM: Any loss is one too many and we have seen, unfortunately, our road tolls increasing across the country. So these investments are important, and the Federal Government will always work constructively with our states. We’ve got Road Safety Ministers meeting from across the country next Friday, and we’ll be ensuring we do what we can to keep people safe, particularly over the upcoming holiday season.

JOURNALIST: And do these meetings with the road safety ministers across the country, do they happen quite often? Is there a strong focus on reducing the road death toll in WA at the moment in these meetings?

CHISHOLM: There is a strong focus on doing that across the country. Unfortunately, we have seen this rise. It’s not unique to Western Australia. It is something that is happening in other parts of the country as well, and that’s why we need to ensure that we’re collaborating; we’re learning off each other about those best outcomes. The Federal Government are doing its part to provide the leadership, but also put money on the table to improve things.

JOURNALIST: And you tried out the road safety simulator there. How did you find the experience?

CHISHOLM: I did. I can imagine for young students who are coming through or people who are less experienced, it’s going to be a great opportunity for them to see the dangers of travelling too fast in a controlled environment. So, I think it’ll be something that’ll be really popular. I congratulate the university for their investment to make something like that happen.

JOURNALIST: Fantastic. Anything else you’d like to add there today? Senators?

GLENN STERLE [WA SENATOR]: Look, I’ve got to congratulate you, Matt, on your work with the rumble strips. Well, as a long-distance truck driver myself who still drives magnificent on our freight routes, particularly the Great Northern Highway. But we must always remember – and it’s so welcome, the $107 million investment and the work with the State Government – but the widening of the roads, the extra metre on the side of the roads with the strips, it just goes a hell of a long way to saving lives. Congratulations on your work.

JOURNALIST: Fantastic.

SUE LINES [WA SENATOR]: And what I’d say is, as a WA senator, we do a lot of driving and I found the rumble strips particularly useful for night driving because they’re kind of a guideline, and you do feel safe when you can feel the rumble under your tyre as opposed to driving without rumble strips. There is a very big difference. And so, I’ve really appreciated when I’ve driven day or night, even in bad weather. I remember once going up north and the weather was horrendous, and the rumble strips were a really added benefit to my safety.

JOURNALIST: Yeah. On that truck driving perspective as well. So yeah, you’ve been a truck driver, and what I guess is your comparison when you’re driving up in the north of our state with the rumble strips versus without?

STERLE: I was doing it in the 70s before we had the rumble strips, but that’s why I was congratulating Dr Matt on the work the university has done in collaboration with the State and the Federal Governments, for the extra money that come in for the widening of the shoulders to provide the opportunity for those rumble strips. Because as we know, if we haven’t got the shoulders wide enough, the rumble strips- by the time we’ve run over the rumble strip, it’s too late. But congratulations. I also note as someone who comes in touch with these rumble strips more often than they would currently like to. They’re there for a damn good reason, and they do save lives. So every cent that comes across the Nullarbor into West Australian roads, with the technology you’ve been working on, Dr Matt, needs to be congratulated. But let’s keep expanding it. There is a lot more to do. And as the Minister said, we’re the biggest state in Australia. We have the largest network, and we have a lot of big gear out there, but we want everyone on our roads safe, our truck drivers and of course our tourists and our other road users. So anything like this, we need to congratulate, put you on a pedestal, and let’s keep going.

CHISHOLM: Thanks everyone.