House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2)
2008-02-14 Daily Xml

Contents

HAY AND STRAW CARRIERS

13 The Hon. G.M. GUNN (Stuart) (30 May 2006).

1. Why is the Police Department taking action against hay and straw carriers without consulting the industry?

2. What experience do the police officers issuing fines to carriers have in carting hay or straw and what instructions have these officers received from their senior officers in relation to this matter?

3. Was there any public consultation and announcements made in relation to the police activities relating to carting hay or straw and if not, why not?

4. Is it the aim of the Department to issue as many 'on the spot fines' as possible to these carriers?

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY (Port Adelaide—Deputy Premier, Treasurer, Minister for Industry and Trade, Minister for Federal/State Relations): The Minister for Police has provided the following information:

South Australia Police (SAPOL) is enforcing current legislation. The current legislation applies to the whole transport industry and is not targeting the hay carting industry. The instances involved excessive amounts of the load blowing off the vehicles. As it is not new legislation no consultation is required as it is enforcing the current standards.

The police officers are specifically traffic officers who have experience in over dimensional and policing of general traffic legislation. No particular instructions have been given relating to these types of loads other than normal SAPOL guidelines for issuing of expiation notices.

There was no public consultation carried out as this is normal day to day policing of current legislation.

Two trucks were stopped and two expiation notices were issued for breaches of load restraint legislation. On both occasions the drivers were cautioned in relation to breaches of other legislation.