WHEELS IN MOTION PROGRAM

Mr TRELOAR (Flinders) (15:21): I rise today to talk about quite a remarkable community initiative that has occurred in the township of Port Lincoln. Just recently, on 30 August, I attended the launch of the Wheels in Motion program. It is a community program that has identified a need within the community, that need being for young people who are socially or economically disadvantaged or isolated and would otherwise have difficulty in obtaining their driver's licence.

This is a terrific initiative. It is being sponsored by the Bendigo Community Bank. In fact, it outlaid, I think, all of the money to purchase a brand new Ford Focus (a nice little car) in which young people can undertake their driving. There are pedals on the off-side, where volunteer instructor drivers can sit and help these young people achieve their P-plates through the L-plate process.

The program is being supported by the Regional Development Australia Board, Whyalla and EP, under a pilot program called SA Works. It is in partnership with another group known as Eyre Futures, which I have had quite a bit to do with because one of their other programs, of course, is Mentoring EP, a program of which I am very proud to be the patron and about which I have spoken a number of times in this place. So, congratulations to Garry Downey and his gang for pulling together and putting together and identifying another very important community program.

As I have said, they are really looking to give the opportunity to those who would otherwise not have the opportunity to gain their driver's licence. As we know, a driver's licence, particularly in country and regional areas, is a vital life skill and, without it, life becomes very difficult. Obviously, we all recognise that it is a privilege to have a driver's licence, and that is to be respected. But, of course, it is also a life skill and a right of passage for many young people.

It is essential for young adults to pursue their social activities. In country areas, there is virtually no public transport. There are certainly very few taxi services, although in the City of Port Lincoln itself there are some. These social activities might include things such as going to sporting activities, going to the beach or going to a local dance, attending church or a youth group, things that young people as they grow into young adults like to do on their own and without involving any obligations from their parents or seniors. It gives them some independence.

Of course, most importantly for young people who come from those particular backgrounds, it can give them educational opportunities or the opportunity to access educational opportunities they would otherwise not have had and the opportunity to drive themselves around to attend courses. Improving their educational qualifications leads onto their being able to drive to and to explore employment opportunities, which is so vital and which is often quite limited within country areas.

Part of the problem here, I think, is that the cost of gaining a driver's licence can be significant. I did some quick research before coming down after lunch today and discovered that to gain an L-plate permit costs $56, to sit the theory test for an L-plate driver's permit costs $34 and to buy a driver's handbook is another $10, so there is a total of $100 in up-front costs that need to be outlaid.

Of course, the real cost factor in all of this is the cost in time, because L-plate drivers have to accumulate 75 hours of log book driving, which involves an adult who is a fully qualified driver being with them through all of that time. Not every family is in a situation where they are able to do that. Of course, there is also the petrol that is needed for this. It has become an expensive business to gain a driver's licence. I think there are unintended consequences of it becoming more difficult to gain a driver's licence.

Nobody can argue with road safety, and it is important that our young drivers be well skilled but, unfortunately, this government has made unintended consequences into an art form. What we have seen from this increasingly difficult, costly and time-consuming process is the disadvantaged in our community becoming even more so. My congratulations to those who have identified the need within the community and have put the program together. I look forward to watching it with interest.