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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2023-06-01 Daily Xml
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Motorcycle Rider Training

The Hon. C. BONAROS (14:35): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Attorney a question about motorcycle rider training.

Leave granted.

The Hon. C. BONAROS: I was somewhat heartened to learn yesterday about the launch of a new SAPOL road safety campaign—I acknowledge this is the Minister for Police's portfolio—attended by the Minister for Police, aimed at reducing the number of motorcyclists who have lost their lives or have suffered serious injuries on our roads. Those statistics are shocking. So far this year, there have been nine motorcyclists who have lost their lives on SA roads (all being male riders), compared to 13 deaths for the entirety of last year.

The new campaign, created to reduce speeding amongst motorcycle riders, pleads for those riders on thrill-seeking rides to back off before their thrills turn to grief. One person who truly knows the pain of these statistics is Anne-marie Taplin, whose son, Harry, lost his life in a motorcycle accident in the Adelaide Hills in 2020, and she has since led the charge to overhaul motorcycle laws to ensure young riders undergo more training, which makes yesterday's announcement a little surprising.

In 2021, the Motor Vehicles (Motor Bike Driver Licensing) Amendment Bill was passed in parliament with amendments we made to address the inadequacy of the current scheme for both new learner riders and returning riders who have not held a licence in the preceding five years. Those amendments specifically referred to compliance with motorbike training prescribed by regulations. I am sure everyone who was here at the time would be familiar with them.

At the time, we were told by the previous government that it was already working on an improved scheme. In fact, we were given a firm undertaking it would be done as a priority. Since then, over a year ago, it has been handballed between ministers and departments no less than five times. Recently, we were told, 'We just need cabinet approval,' and an announcement was imminent—followed by crickets. My questions to the Attorney are:

1. Where is the improved scheme this government has promised?

2. Why have they been delayed?

3. Will the new improvements be introduced before more motorcyclists lose their lives on our roads due to a lack of suitable training?

4. Have details of the scheme, and how it will be implemented, been signed off by cabinet and, if not, why the delay?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (14:38): I thank the honourable member for her question. Of course, road safety is committed to the Hon. Joe Szakacs, the member for Cheltenham, and often with licensing schemes there is an element of transport involved, which would be the Hon. Tom Koutsantonis, the member for West Torrens. I am not aware of exactly where this is up to, so I wouldn't want to try to guess and get something on it, so I am very happy to take that question away and to seek a response between the two ministers who have responsibility in these areas.

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