ROAD SAFETY

The Hon. S.G. WADE (15:01): I have a supplementary question. Is the South-East Road Safety Strategy to which the minister refers an endorsed road strategy of the state government, with similar status to the state road strategy?

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Road Safety, Minister Assisting the Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (15:01): As I have said, the South-East Road Safety Strategy is a joint initiative of SELGA and the Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure, and it was really born out of the highest number of road deaths in any South Australian region. I believe there were 20 fatalities in 2005, and since then the community has worked together to reverse the trend.

It is the state's first regional road safety strategy, and I commend the region for the initiative. I know the department has worked very hard. The strategy itself has set up a regional target of no more than 76 serious casualties by the end of 2010, which apparently compares with 85 and 90 in each of the past two years. The strategy also sets an aspirational goal of achieving a fatality-free year on the region's roads.

The state government is committed to assisting and implementing the priorities in the strategy, and we hope to use this as a pilot for other regions throughout South Australia. Again, I commend SELGA for its important work in the community.