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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2)
2008-04-02 Daily Xml
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McLEAN, PROF. J.

The Hon. B.V. FINNIGAN (14:57): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Road Safety a question about the retirement of Professor Jack McLean.

Leave granted.

The Hon. B.V. FINNIGAN: For more than 30 years Professor McLean has been dedicated and committed to improving road safety in South Australia. Will the Minister for Road Safety outline some of his achievements and the impact his research has had on significantly reducing the road toll?

Members interjecting:

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Road Safety, Minister Assisting the Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (14:58): It is regrettable that members opposite are not interested in respecting the work of Professor Jack McLean.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. Mr Ridgway will give the minister a fair go and be quiet.

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO: It is regrettable that members opposite do not care about the important work of Professor Jack McLean. It would be impossible to guess how many lives have been saved through the implementation of road safety policies and programs based on the recommendations arising from Professor Jack McLean's research. Perhaps they should speak to a former member of this chamber, the Hon. Diana Laidlaw, who I am sure has enormous respect for Professor Jack McLean's work.

There is no doubt that Professor Jack McLean has played a major role in the impressive reductions that have occurred in the Australian road toll since his work began. On Saturday night I was pleased to speak at the retirement function for Professor McLean. He has an extensive and impressive curriculum vitae. After completing a Bachelor of Engineering degree at the University of Adelaide in 1961, he held a series of research posts in the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia before being awarded a Master of Engineering from the University of Adelaide in 1968. Studies at Harvard University led him to being awarded further degrees: a Master of Science in Hygiene in the field of environmental health and a Doctor of Science in the fields of epidemiology and biostatistics. Upon achieving his doctorate, Professor McLean returned to Adelaide, where he founded the Road Accident Research Unit, now known as the Centre for Automotive Safety Research.

In the remainder of the decade he established the unit as a centre for excellence and innovation in the field of in-depth at-scene road accident investigation. His research set the benchmark for in-depth investigation of road crashes as recognised by the World Health Organisation.

As Minister for Road Safety, I thought it fitting to speak about Professor McLean's direct impact on the South Australian community through CASR. CASR represents an independent research voice that has led debate and generated practical change on the ground. The greatest single impact has been in the area of speed. The research project led by Professor McLean that identified the casualty risk associated with crashes at different speeds will surely go down as one of the greatest pieces of research ever to come out of South Australia.

The research findings reverberated around the world and underpinned the introduction of the default 50 km/h speed limit in Australia, and they will play an ongoing role in reducing the dreadful burden that road crashes place on human life. Professor Jack McLean's work represents a shining example of the way in which South Australia can be the base for highly relevant, sophisticated and important research that not only benefits South Australia but has a positive effect on the worldwide community.

On behalf of the South Australian government I would like to officially acknowledge and thank Professor McLean. I would also like to officially welcome Professor Mary Lydon who will be filling Professor McLean's rather impressive shoes. Professor Lydon is an expert in road safety, traffic management and road design. She has more than 30 years experience in the field and is expected to build on CASR's outstanding worldwide reputation as a leader in automotive safety research.

Again, I thank Professor Jack McLean for his public service to this state and, indeed, to the world community.

Honourable members: Hear, hear!

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