Road Traffic (Roadworks) Amendment Bill

Second Reading

Adjourned debate on second reading.

(Continued from 1 March 2017.)

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS (Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety) (16:01): I would like to thank members for their contributions to what is an important bill. This government is intent on keeping South Australia moving, which is not only evidenced by the billions currently being invested in our road network but also via our Operation Moving Traffic reforms. This bill is an important part of our Operation Moving Traffic reforms and will allow for a comprehensive approach to the management of roadworks, which will improve safety for road workers and reduce frustration for motorists.

Over the years, motorists have often expressed their anger and frustration when being ordered to slow down in a roadworks site when there are no workers or any evident dangers present. This has also had a negative impact on compliance with speed limit restrictions through roadworks sites. While it will still be necessary to slow down when directed, this bill will allow authorised officers to remove speed limit signs that are used inappropriately, namely, where there are no workers engaged in the work area and the condition of the roadworks area does not represent a greater than normal level of hazard.

Further, the bill addresses the longstanding issue of the lack of coordination by utilities with DPTI when planning major upgrades which require roadworks. This bill will ensure that this problem is resolved via the introduction of a permit regime, which will apply when roadworks are to be conducted on roads under the care, control and management of the Commissioner of Highways. This will ensure works conducted on many of our major arterial roads will often be scheduled at off-peak times, unless they are urgent.

No longer will South Australians have to unnecessarily endure disruptions because repairs to our road network are undertaken at an inappropriate hour or speed signage is unnecessarily left out for the convenience of those conducting roadworks.

Bill read a second time.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (16:03): I move:

That it be an instruction to the Committee of the Whole that it have power to consider a new clause relating to reviewing and reporting on intersections controlled by traffic lights and the installation of 'Left turn on red after stopping' signs.

Motion carried.

Committee Stage

In committee.

Clause 1.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: I think the intention was just to vote on the second reading, and then obviously I moved the contingent notice of motion No. 2 in relation to the 'left turn on red' clause. There are two questions I would like to ask. Then we might report progress, and the minister can bring back a response tomorrow morning or whenever we next sit. They are future clauses, but instead of springing them on the minister at some point in the debate, I would rather raise them now and get an answer when he is able to give one.

Under proposed section 20—Work areas and work sites, subsection (6) provides that a minister must issue a roadworks permit and mentions that the fee associated with this permit is to be fixed by regulation. Can the minister give an indication of what the fee is likely to be? It is the opposition's and the Master Builders Association's understanding that the fee will be in the order of $10 to $20.

In relation to clause 6—Amendment of section 21—Offences relating to traffic control devices, proposed subsection (1a) details a penalty of $20,000 for a first offence and $50,000 for a subsequent offence. Do these penalties apply to each individual sign or collectively to a number of signs on the same worksite? If there were four signs on the same worksite, would the permit holder be up for a $20,000 fine and then three subsequent fines of $50,000 or would it just be a $20,000 fine for that one worksite? I do not know what the response will be, but I ask the minister to bring back an answer on those two points.

Progress reported; committee to sit again.