Motor Accident Commission

Mr MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Leader of the Opposition) (14:26): My question is to the Minister for Road Safety. Why has the Motor Accident Commission been directed to stop making media comments?

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD (Gibson—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (14:26): I thank the member for his question. The Motor Accident Commission, as I pointed out just a few moments ago, was sold off by those opposite—the big conglomeration that it was.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: If you let me finish—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Waite is called to order.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: Pump your brakes. We know the treasurer raped and pillaged and took all the money out of the Motor Accident Commission and left it as a shell of what it was.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: The Motor Accident Commission is winding down its duties, still delivering advertising and educational programs, as it has in the past, as it transfers across to the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: —and across to SAPOL as well. That is happening because of the mess we were left with. We are tidying that up and fixing it up and those two agencies will take forward the responsibilities of the Motor Accident Commission. They—

Mr Malinauskas: Did you direct them to stop making media comments?

The SPEAKER: Order! We have the question.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: —have actually handed the duties over and they are handing the duties over. SAPOL—

The Hon. J.A.W. Gardner interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The Minister for Education is called to order.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: —and a number of other organisations, the RAA and a number of not-for-profits, are getting involved in making media comment about road safety aspects. I know that the Leader of the Opposition thinks that a billboard will solve all the problems, but that is not to be the case. It is a collection, as I said in my last answer, of activities right across the board that will help with our road safety strategy.