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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2008-11-25 Daily Xml
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CHILD RESTRAINT LAWS

The Hon. B.V. FINNIGAN (15:09): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Road Safety a question regarding the recently announced child restraint laws.

Leave granted.

The Hon. B.V. FINNIGAN: I understand that nearly 60 children under 12 years of age are either killed or seriously injured in crashes on South Australian roads every year, and more than a third of those casualties are just seven years old or younger. Will the Minister for Road Safety explain how the state government is strengthening its commitment to ensure that our children are properly restrained while travelling on the state's roads?

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Road Safety, Minister for Gambling, Minister Assisting the Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (15:10): I thank the honourable member for his important question. The statistics the honourable member has just mentioned are really a stark reminder of just how vulnerable children are, and it is extremely alarming that around a quarter of the number of children seriously injured in South Australia are not wearing a child restraint at the time of the crash. The honourable member mentioned that 60 children under 12 years of age in South Australia are either killed or seriously injured in crashes: I think, if my memory serves me correctly, Australia-wide it is 500 children.

The Rann government has acted on its promise to further strengthen its commitment to road safety by adopting new nationally approved changes for the use of child restraints in motor vehicles. The new laws will reduce the risk of injury caused by the use of unsuitable restraints for a child's size. I think it is worth placing on record how the new laws will require children to be restrained, as follows:

up to the age of six months to be restrained in a rear-facing child restraint (for example, an infant capsule, as we would all know it);

from six months until the age of four years to be restrained in either a rear or forward-facing child restraint;

from four years until the age of seven years to be restrained in either a forward-facing child restraint or booster seat restrained by a correctly adjusted and fastened seatbelt or child safety harness.

As well—and I think this is important—children aged between four and seven years will not be permitted to sit in the front seat unless all other seat positions are already occupied by children under seven years. Children up to four years must be restrained in the rear of the vehicle where the vehicle has two or more rows of seats.

Importantly, because not all babies and children are the same, provision will be included in the new laws to ensure that a child is not required to use a restraint unsuitable for their size and weight. For example, a child who is too tall or too heavy for the restraint must use a restraint for the next age category. The laws will also provide parents and carers with the advice and clarification they need about what type of restraint provides the best safety benefit for their children.

I take this opportunity to remind parents that purchasing the correct restraint for their child really is an investment in their child's safety, because nothing else offers the same level of crash protection for babies and young children as a properly fitted child restraint.

The new laws will come into effect in the second half of next year to allow parents and carers sufficient time to purchase the restraints and to make the necessary modifications to their vehicles. This is an issue on which a lot of work has been undertaken. South Australia is taking the lead, and I acknowledge the support of the RAA in particular. It worked with the government to ensure that all the necessary information is available. In particular, a good question and answer site is available on both the RAA and government websites.

The government has deliberately allowed a long period between announcing the changes and introducing this very important law, and I urge all parents and guardians to heed this early warning and make the necessary purchases and adjustments to ensure their cars and restraints are suitable. I know that hire schemes are available for those parents who would find it financially difficult and, again, a good lead time has been allowed to ensure that parents can explore what option is best for them. Complacency and ignorance will not be an excuse for not complying. Children are very vulnerable, and it is important that we are responsible.

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