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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2021-05-12 Daily Xml
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Road Safety

Mr McBRIDE (MacKillop) (14:59): My question is to the Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services. Can the minister please update the house on how the Marshall Liberal government is working with the commonwealth to improve road safety in South Australia?

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA (Hartley—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services) (14:59): I thank the member for MacKillop for his question and his interest in this very important area. Members of this place would agree that ensuring Australians are safe on our roads is a key priority for every government across the country, and our government is committed to improving the quality and safety of our roads for all road users.

The federal government obviously shares this commitment, which is why it is important that we have a state government that wants to work with the federal government. Last year's federal budget saw the announcement of $210 million for road safety programs in South Australia as part of the commonwealth's $2 billion Road Safety Program. These projects include improvements such as shoulder sealing, installing audio tactile line markings and also improved safety barriers.

We wasted no time in partnering with the commonwealth government on this program, and we are delivering projects including $9 million for shoulder sealing, curve widening and surface improvements on nearly 300 kilometres of the Eyre Highway; $15.9 million for road safety improvements, including widening on the Rocky River Bridge along the Horrocks Highway; and also $14 million for road improvements along a 40-kilometre stretch of the Stuart Highway, from Pimba to just north of Coober Pedy.

That is why we are taking this partnership even further. Last night's federal budget included a further billion dollar investment into the Road Safety Program, which will mean that we will once again partner with the commonwealth to receive what will be our fair share of that funding, which will deliver high-priority road safety improvements right across the state. This type of partnership funding is what a state government can achieve when they have a good, respectful relationship with the federal government.

The massive funding injection will not only result in new infrastructure projects but also contribute towards safety improvements, surface upgrades and a safer driving experience for South Australian road users. We are also working with the commonwealth government as we develop South Australia's Road Safety Strategy to 2031. Importantly, our strategy will be closely linked to the National Road Safety Strategy 2021-30, which is also being developed as we speak. This close cooperation with the commonwealth will put us in the best place possible to reduce lives lost and serious injuries on our roads.

I am also pleased to inform the house that South Australia will this year host the 2021 Yellow Ribbon National Road Safety Week that runs from 16 May to 23 May. This year's theme is simple but conveys a message that all road users should heed: 'Drive so others survive'. Of course, we need to think about others when we are on the roads; it is not just our own lives that could be at risk but also those of other road users. Yellow Ribbon National Road Safety Week will see a number of key events in South Australia to highlight that key point to South Australian road users.

It is a real privilege for South Australia to host the week and I particularly want to thank Mr Peter Fraser, the president and founder of Safer Australian Roads and Highways, for his outstanding efforts in establishing Yellow Ribbon National Road Safety Week. I look forward to continuing to work with him and also the individuals and all the groups who are very dedicated to making sure that our roads are as safe as possible. I hope to see many members of this place at many of these events.

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