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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2008-10-16 Daily Xml
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DRIVER REVIVER CAMPAIGN

Mr VENNING (Schubert) (15:44): I was contacted in July this year by the secretary of the Lions Club of Angaston and District regarding a service they give to the community through the Driver Reviver campaign. I declare that I am a proud member of the neighbouring Barossa Lions Club. The Angaston District Lions club has participated in this vital road safety initiative—the Driver Reviver—in the past 12 years. On nominated long weekends, Lions volunteers give of their time freely to serve tea and coffee to motorists travelling along the Sturt Highway at Nuriootpa.

The Lions Club provides the tea, coffee, milk and sugar free of charge, but there is a jar on the counter to collect donations. Biscuits are donated by Bushells and Arnott's. On the Queen's Birthday long weekend the Lions' volunteers served approximately 110 patrons, with $28 being deposited into the donation jar. Despite having alleged support from politicians, government agencies and other bodies to maintain this road safety initiative, such support is not always forthcoming. The Angaston and District Lions Club recently telephoned AGL to inquire how it could claim exemption from the power cost of running its Driver Reviver station, which costs the service club $170 per annum.

However, in the words of the club secretary, this phone call 'brought no joy'. The Lions Club of Angaston already supplies the products for this station and to ask it to foot the bill for the electricity as well is a bit much. Community groups, such as the Lions Club of Angaston, which is doing something proactive to lower the nation's road toll, should be able to receive exemption from such an account. Following the club's contact with me, I wrote to the Minister for Road Safety inquiring about avenues for funding either to cover or to subsidise the electricity costs incurred as a result of running the Driver Reviver stop. The minister's response states:

I have been advised that funding may be available to the Lions Club via the local Barossa Regional Road Safety Group, which is a community and road safety group that supports such road safety projects as the Driver Reviver rest stops.

The Lions Club contacted the group indicated by the minister which referred him to yet another group, SPOKE, which then referred him to Families SA. They are getting the run around. No-one wants to take responsibility. Everyone is passing the buck for the sake of $170 for all those hundreds of hours of volunteer work. The shadow minister for road safety in another place has kindly pledged a personal donation to the Angaston Lions Club in order for it to pay its electricity bill—an MP in another place!

Two other people from the Barossa Valley have also offered personal donations to the Lions Club in order to help cover its future electricity accounts. That is generosity which can only be applauded and supported by me, and if there is any shortfall I will fill it myself. Earlier this year on radio, the Minister for Road Safety said:

Our community road safety groups...a lot of them are based in country South Australia, and these are the people at the coalface that work incredibly hard. They're volunteers...we are in debt to these people.

If that is the case, then why does this Rann Labor government not show support for initiatives such as Driver Reviver? I commend them most heartily, because I know that, particularly on the Sturt Highway where they have it at Nuriootpa, it is near the road toll danger area. It is certainly a black spot along that part of the highway with several dangerous intersections. People have been driving on the roads either over an hour from Adelaide or two hours from the Riverland. It is a great spot to have a Driver Reviver station.

It is a great service by the Lions Club. It has been well supported and respected by the community. I cannot believe that, for the sake of $170, the minister, the electricity providers or anyone else cannot say, 'Well done. We will provide this free of charge.' I commend the member in the other place, the Hon. Stephen Wade, and others who have donated their money. Long may they do this service, and I hope this cost does not stop them from providing the service.

Time expired.

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