Department for Infrastructure and Transport, $1,086,425,000

Administered Items for the Department for Infrastructure and Transport, $6,293,000

Membership:

Mr Whetstone substituted for Mr McBride.

Minister:

Hon. J.K. Szakacs, Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services.

Departmental Advisers:

Ms J. Formston, Executive Director, People and Corporate Services, Department for Infrastructure and Transport.

Ms E. Kokar, Executive Director, Road and Marine Services, Department for Infrastructure and Transport.

Ms C. Nightingale, Manager, Road Safety Policy and Projects, Department for Infrastructure and Transport.

Mr L. Pineda, Manager, Budgeting and Reporting, Department for Infrastructure and Transport.

Mr I. Parrott, Assistant Commissioner, South Australia Police.

Mr S. Johinke, Director, Business Service, South Australia Police.

Mr S. Watkins, Superintendent, Governance and Capability Service, South Australia Police.

The CHAIR: The portfolio is Road Safety, Department for Infrastructure and Transport. The minister appearing is the Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services. I advise that the proposed payments are open for examination. I call on the minister to make a statement, if the minister wishes, and to introduce advisers. I call on the lead speaker for the opposition to make a statement, if he so wishes. I call on members for questions.

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: I would like to acknowledge and introduce the advisers I have with me today. On the front table with me, to my right is Judith Formston, Executive Director of People and Corporate Services at the Department for Infrastructure and Transport; I have Emma Kokar, the Executive Director of Road and Marine Services at DIT as well; and I have Assistant Commissioner Ian Parrott from SAPOL. Behind me, I have Luis Pineda, Manager of Budgeting and Reporting at DIT; Carol Nightingale, Manager of Road Safety Policy and Projects at DIT; Stephen Johinke, Director of Business Service at SAPOL; and I think there are a couple of late additions that I am not able to turn my neck to get to. My apologies to them, but I thank them for their efforts.

Mr WHETSTONE: Use your face ID camera.

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: Way ahead of you. I have a short opening statement. Road safety is absolutely a responsibility that we all take. There are a number of factors that are of concern to me. One is the continuing over-representation of Aboriginal people and deaths of Aboriginal people on our roads.

There are a number of country and regional members in here today. They are well and truly aware of the impacts that road trauma and road deaths have on regional communities and the important goal that we have, and that all of us have, in challenging the notion that deaths on our roads in regional communities occur from people travelling through communities when we know that the vast majority of people who die on regional roads die close to home. That is a tragedy and a matter that requires a challenging of the orthodoxy of thought.

Finally, there is the death of young people on our roads. I have had the absolute honour of addressing thousands of young people in various forums since being sworn in as a minister of the Crown just a short while ago. Each and every time, I put to them the proposition that I put now: do you want your decision to be a decision that kills yourself, kills a friend or kills someone else's loved ones on the roads? Whilst there are many complexities in road safety, there are many moving parts and there are thousands and thousands of people who work within our public sector who address this, it can come down to as simple a proposition as that: a choice that a young person makes when driving or, more importantly, a choice that a young person may make not to drive.

I know those virtuous goals that we have are certainly not ones that just this government shares. I know the former government were as dedicated to reducing road deaths and road trauma as anyone else. I note their support, and I also note their support in a bipartisan way in reducing the impact of road trauma and death on our roads.

Mr WHETSTONE: Just quickly, I share the minister's sentiments on road safety. Obviously, being a regional MP, I spend a lot of time on the roads. I see a lot of dumb stuff on the roads. As a government, we need to protect those people by making the roads as safe as we can. Thirty per cent of the population live in the regions, and 65 per cent of road deaths happen in the regions within 25 kilometres of home or less for those regional people who lose their lives or have serious crashes.

The bipartisan investment is there, and I commend the former government for their great initiatives in road safety projects just like I do the current government. Minister, I refer to Budget Paper 4, Volume 3, page 120. We talk about the mobile phone detection program. It has been delayed by 12 months. Can you please update us as to why?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: I am very happy to. I note that this was a project that had a particular flavour that the former government approached, and that was 'announce and not deliver'. There are two major factors that have seen this project be delayed, and there were also two major things that occurred in the last financial year, which I will note in assistance of my answer.

The former government announced at least twice that this project would be proceeding and in that period failed to do two very important things, two things that must occur before a project like this can proceed, the first of which is pass legislation. Last year, I remember sitting in the House of Assembly with the Speaker when the then opposition tried to recall government to pass important legislation. This was a matter that was sitting on the Notice Paper and unfortunately the former government did not prioritise the passage of this through the requisite number of sitting days.

I do not blame the member for Chaffey for that. It was a decision that was made for various political reasons, but the truth is that the legislation did not pass the house, even though it had the full support of the opposition, and the only reason it did not pass the house was that we were not there. The government decided to pick up stumps before the election, which is their prerogative, but notwithstanding that it is an important point to note. This government is proceeding through channels which are necessary and, unsurprising to the member, we have a cabinet process to go through in respect of proposed legislation, and processes are proceeding as is to be expected on that.

The second important part that would rebut the member's proposition that this has been delayed was that there was absolutely no procurement. There were absolutely no steps to procure these cameras by the former government—absolutely none. The procurement and purchase of these devices is important. They are critical, but also technical. Whether that was lost in some of the priorities of the former government, I do not know. I have not received advice as to why procurement did not occur. All I know is that procurement did not occur.

Again, subject to normal processes of executive government, including cabinet, procurement will proceed, and there is nothing that this government is more interested in doing than proceeding with actions rather than announcements. That is why the member for Chaffey would note that neither myself nor the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport have been out there talking up this project and talking about when we are going to be delivering.

In fact, for that matter, nor have we been out there saying what a poor job the former government did in delivering the project. We are getting on with the job of doing what we must do. There are processes in place, but the proposition that this has been delayed is a furphy because there was a blank slate when we were sworn in as a new government.

Mr WHETSTONE: Just as an update, the reason the former government did not pass the legislation was that it was stuck in the budget measures bill, which was blocked by Labor in the Legislative Council. The total budget cost for the mobile phone detection project has been cut by $16.3 million. You have just spent probably seven minutes patting yourself on the back, but what I would like to know is—

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: If you think that is patting ourselves on the back, wait till we actually get this done.

Mr WHETSTONE: —what have you done with the legislation and what have you done with acquiring the software needed to get this project underway since your time in government?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: It is more than just software, on that question, it is the procurement of the hardware. The software is the least of the issues here. It is the procurement of the hardware that the member for Chaffey did note. Whilst I would not want to debate his reflections on the Legislative Council, it is unequivocal that procurement did not proceed under the former government. It is a blank slate.

I am happy to walk through the total budget cost for this in some detail to indicate the manner in which this government will be proceeding. It initially provides $1.5 million for the purchase of the cameras and $1 million for the installation. The decrease the member refers to of $14.2 million in the 2021-22 estimated result, results from the 2021-22 original budget. It is primarily due to delays in passing of legislative amendments and the rolling out of the initiative in 2022-23, as well as the revision of the capital costs.

The revision of the capital costs and installation strategy follows a market sounding. This market sounding was done by the Department for Infrastructure and Transport in May of 2021. Again, I note this was an action undertaken by this government having been sworn in just a few weeks before. The advice from interstate counterparts to the department was that the cameras had higher operating costs and higher licensing costs than estimated, but a lower than needed capital cost.

Following this market sounding, again, going to budget, the price of the cameras was reduced. The installation strategy was also amended to utilise existing structures, and these structures that will be utilised, for the member's benefit, will be structures such as variable messaging signs. Cameras can be mounted on those and will provide an effective method for installation. That will be in lieu of erecting new structures. This resulted in the revised budget amount of $1.5 million for the purchase of the cameras and $1 million for the installation.

Mr WHETSTONE: There are two packages or strategies that we are looking at, as far as road safety is concerned. The completion of a regional road safety package has been delayed by 12 months. What is the reason for that?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: Do you have a budget item for that?

Mr WHETSTONE: That is same reference point, Budget Paper 4, Volume 3, page 121.

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: Thank you for the reference, it was important to know. That is a matter best referred and necessary to be referred to the Minister for Infrastructure.

Mr WHETSTONE: Has your agency had any input into the completion or the development of the regional road safety package?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: It is not my agency, member for Chaffey.

Mr WHETSTONE: No, I understand that, but did your agency have any input.

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: It is not my agency, that is why I have referred the question to the transport minister; it is his portfolio and ministerial responsibilities.

The CHAIR: I am sure questions have been asked of the minister elsewhere.

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: I am not sure, I am sorry.

The CHAIR: I am pretty sure it was.

Mr WHETSTONE: It comes under page 144.

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: Sorry, you referred to page 120.

Mr WHETSTONE: Budget Paper 4, Volume 3, a new road safety strategy for South Australia is reducing lives lost, serious injury for road users and developing a culture. Can you update the committee on that strategy?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: Thank you for clarifying that—yes, I absolutely can. The South Australian government is finalising an action plan to progress delivery on the targets set nationally through the National Road Safety Strategy of reducing lives lost by at least 50 per cent. Reducing serious injuries by at least 30 per cent by 2030, delivering safer regional roads, safer school precincts and safer road user behaviour are some of the areas of particular focus as, of course, is reducing lives lost and serious injuries on South Australian roads.

The action plan will be informed by the National Road Safety Strategy and the South Australian Road Safety Strategy to 2031. That was released earlier this year, and I believe the former Minister for Road Safety has a wonderful photo on the front of that one. Always a good photo.

Mr WHETSTONE: He has a lot of wonderful photos, has he not?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: My favourite would have to be the one on the jet ski but we will not go there today.

Mr WHETSTONE: Get them while you can.

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: Arrangements are also being put in place to enable transparent reporting on progress delivering the action plan and how well those actions are working through a set of safety performance indicators. Specifically, road safety actions also continue to be delivered, including roadside enforcement by SAPOL, behaviour change campaigns and programs, and initiatives such as On The Right Track program and Way2Go.

Rollout of safety treatments across priority locations on our regional road network also continues through a road safety infrastructure program jointly funded by the commonwealth and South Australian governments at a proportion of 80 per cent commonwealth:20 per cent state. The strategy that I referred to, the 2031 strategy that was released on 28 January 2022, was informed by analysis of road safety statistics, modelling and advice from the Centre for Automotive Safety Research.

It was also informed by community and stakeholder feedback, specifically to the member's question regarding consultation. Stakeholder and community consultation to inform the development of the strategy occurred between August 2021 and December 2021. The strategy and its targets to reduce lives lost and serious injuries were also developed to align with the National Road Safety Strategy 2021-30. This national strategy was endorsed at the Infrastructure and Transport Ministers Meeting in May 2021 and then further released in December 2021.

Mr WHETSTONE: There is also a five-year Road Safety Action Plan. Is that in lieu of what the Motor Accident Commission (MAC) used to achieve?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: The short answer is no. In lieu of MAC's operations, which have been dispersed across DIT and SAPOL, the action plan largely informs the work and the strategies of the government and agencies. It does not replace MAC's work. In fact, the work that MAC undertook, and particularly the funding that MAC dispersed, is now exclusively with DIT and SAPOL.

Mr WHETSTONE: It went to general revenue, did it not? I think it did. Sorry, I shall not. Acknowledging the $12 million of additional funding to the regional road safety package, could you please provide a breakdown of how that additional funding attributed to the package will be used?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: This is another one, member for Chaffey, that is in the ministerial responsibility of the Minister for Infrastructure. If I can assist with liaising with the minister I will, but I would not want to assume that questions have or have not been asked of the minister on that.

Mr WHETSTONE: Okay, well it comes under road safety. Budget Paper 4, Volume 3, page 121: the completion of targeted road safety works has been delayed by 12 months. Are you able to shed light on why?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: As to why, because of the complexity of these projects, I may need to take that on notice, other than the existing and already well-ventilated matters that have caused significant delays across many projects across many jurisdictions. Would the member be assisted by a detailed breakdown of those projects, or do you have access to those?

Mr WHETSTONE: I will take that on notice. Can you please explain the almost $23 million reduction in the road safety income?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: I am advised that the variation there is predominantly due to the way the commonwealth funding flows through and out. To give it a degree of breakdown for the member's interest, that is a $22.6 million decrease in commonwealth government contributions toward road safety works as part of the targeted road safety works—that is the stimulus package that was delivered in 2021-22—and a further $3.6 million reduction in commonwealth government contributions towards the national Black Spot program rolling out through 2022-23.

Mr WHETSTONE: I have some questions on the key performance indicators. Traffic offences: can you please explain why there is a projected decrease in the number of reports for traffic offences detected by police?

The CHAIR: What page are we on?

Mr WHETSTONE: Page 211, Budget Paper 4, Volume 3. There is a decrease from 17,741 to 14,795?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: I am sorry, member for Chaffey. I just could not hear you over the Chair. I am not sure whether he was asking for the same reference. Was it page 211?

Mr WHETSTONE: Page 211.

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: Thank you. I am advised that is almost exclusively due to the implications of COVID.

Mr WHETSTONE: Right. Gee whiz, COVID has done a lot of damage to you, today. Minister, I go on to traffic watch complaints. Can you explain the projected decrease in the number of traffic watch complaints received? That has gone down by almost 2,000.

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: I will have to take that on notice as well. I am not advised that the complaints and the reasons for complaints will not have been affected by COVID, so I will take that on notice, and I am very happy to provide a more detailed answer to the member.

Mr WHETSTONE: Also, with road fatalities, the projected increase in road fatalities by four? It is a concerning projection that we are going to see more people die on the roads. I just might add to that the increase of serious injuries, up by 65.

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: Just to get the best information for you, member for Chaffey, what are you specifically referring to because the information that I am noting in that is—

Mr WHETSTONE: Budget Paper 4, Volume 3, page 146.

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: If I am looking at page 146, the performance indicators, that actually predicts fewer fatalities, member for Chaffey, and it also projects fewer serious injuries, which would be consistent with our goal towards net zero.

Mr WHETSTONE: I beg your pardon, it does. I am no mathematician, no rocket scientist. It is evident, is it not? Budget Paper 4, Volume 3, page 146: can you provide an update on the Towards Zero Together program, and what funding has been allocated for that Towards Zero Together program in the 2022-23 budget?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: Just to clarify, Chair, was it page 146?

Mr WHETSTONE: That is what I am told.

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: There is no reference to that program on page 146.

Mr WHETSTONE: Yes, it might be in Budget Paper 5, I think. Sorry, please bear with me.

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: In your hands, member.

Mr WHETSTONE: I do not think it is that. Minister, are you aware of the Towards Zero Together program?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: I am, yes.

Mr WHETSTONE: Excellent, that is a good start. Are you able to provide an update?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: Just to assist the member, I am happy to take that broad question on notice and provide a degree of information outside of this to the member.

Mr WHETSTONE: You have a lot of competency sitting next to you there, I am sure.

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: We will wait them to find—back in your hands then.

The CHAIR: We are quickly running out of time. To show my generosity as Chair, I will give the opportunity to find and put a question.

Mr WHETSTONE: Minister, just referring back to the mobile phone detection cameras and the delay on those cameras, reports are that there will be 100,000 drivers in a 12-month period who will be pinged, but it has over time contributed to 240 deaths. You are four times more likely to crash while using your mobile phone. Do you have any comment as to justification of why this delay has occurred? We cannot continue to blame the former government, this is a serious program that needs the attention of the government.

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: I can assure the member that it has the full attention of the government and, rather than continuing to blame the former government, we are getting on with the job of fixing the mess that was inherited from the former government in respect of this. I can, in good grace and good spirit, as it has been today, sincerely agree with the member regarding the need for us to make significant changes on our roads when it comes to the use of mobile phones and distracted driving. It is a killer and there is no excuse.

The CHAIR: Thank you, minister. I declare the examination of the portfolio of road safety completed. The estimates of payments for the Department for Infrastructure and Transport and Administered Items for the Department for Infrastructure and Transport are adjourned until tomorrow. I thank all the departmental employees who have made a contribution to today. We know a lot of background work goes into these estimates hearings, so you have our appreciation.

I also thank members of the opposition for the very measured way in which you have approached the day's proceedings. I apologise to the member for Davenport as it was very remiss of me—she had a question much earlier; alas, I missed out on that, so my apologies.

At 14:47 the committee adjourned to Thursday 23 June 2022 at 09:00.