Premier John Brumby, Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner for Traffic, Ken Lay, and Roads Minister

Wednesday, 06 February 2008

Premier John Brumby, Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner for Traffic, Ken Lay, and Roads Minister Tim Pallas, unveil a range of new road safety initiatives to drive down the road toll, including tougher drink driving laws, more driver education, passenger restrictions for P-plate drivers, and mandatory car safety technology.

 JOHN BRUMBY: Well, I think across the Government, actually, we’ve been pretty firm on it: I know that discussions that Tim and I had last year – and we’ve been really working on this over the last few months – I think we both had a view that some of the suggestions were probably too strong, and it’s really after talking to the community, talking to young people, getting a range of views and hearing the strength of community input on that that we thought some action was necessary in this area.

The proposition that was put by the RACV, I think, was a sensible proposition: it’s one we looked at; it was one that I was happy to support. I think it strikes the right balance, and when you look at all of the, you know, the evidence in this area, it is overwhelming, and there’s just an overwhelming amount of evidence that if young kids, particularly in that first year of driving, they fill the back seat, they’re peer-aged kids, they get egged on, and that’s when you get the tragedies.

In addition, the advice we got from the Monash University, the Accident Research Centre, again, said this would save a lot of lives and, on balance, therefore, you know, I changed my position. I think I listened, I listened to what people said, I listened to what the experts said and, you know, it was, I think, a fair balance, a fair compromise, and it will save lives.

REPORTER: [Inaudible]

JOHN BRUMBY: Well, again, we looked at that, and our intention was to basically see the implementation of new technology as early as possible – that’s what we wanted to do. And when we came down to looking at all of the numbers, to looking at the way in which we could get electronic stability control and side airbags installed in the shortest possible time, there’s no doubt that the best way of doing that is by mandating. And we got some advice on that: some of the early advice said it might be difficult for a state to mandate; we got further advice on that and VicRoads does have the legal power to decide whether it should or should not register a vehicle in our state.

So, we have a clear legislative power in that regard – that is the quickest way that we can see the market move towards this: it’ll work faster than incentives, plus the fleet purchase that we’re undertaking, which will give critical mass to manufacturers. And the other side of the equation is the $15 million or so that we might have put into incentives, we’re putting into an expanded SRIP program, and the reason we did that, again, was all of the advice we get from the Monash University Accident Research Centre, again, is that that was the best use of that money in terms of saving lives. So, I think we got the right package at the end of the day.

Bear in mind last year, of course, we reduced stamp duty on cars – we made quite substantial cuts in the state budget – so the cost of cars has been coming down; the real cost of cars, as a share of average weekly earnings, has been coming down. So, you know, these new measures, I think, you know, are just what we…just exactly the same as, you know, 20 years ago, or whatever it was, when we mandated seat-belts: you know, people argued about that at the time, argued that it might cost more, but it’s the right thing – you wouldn’t dream about not doing it nowadays, and all of the other safety improvements – so we thought this is the right way to go, this’ll get action quicker, and the leadership we’re showing with the fleet purchase, I think you’ll see a very rapid uptake on these things as a result of this decision.

REPORTER: [Inaudible]

JOHN BRUMBY: Well, I think that depends on the manufacturers and the market: there are already a lot of cars which are produced with these features; I think, at the moment, something like 50 per cent of all of the new cars sold in our state have electronic stability control. Victoria’s been the biggest, the strongest market in terms of uptake in safety features, and I think that’s because of the advertising and particularly the TAC and the information in the market. So, I think you’ll see a lot of competition there in the market: I think the manufacturers will compete to sell safer cars; I think that’s what consumers want, so I don’t think you can make predictions about price.

What we do know is that the real price of motor vehicles has been coming down, the cost as a share of average weekly earnings has been coming down, and I think people who buy a car today, they want to know that it’s safe. And you’ll see this illustration in a moment about the benefit of side-curtain protection, and I think as more of these come on the market, you’ll see the real cost of these additional measures come down. I think side-curtain airbags, the actual cost to manufacturers of installing them, if they’re installed on the production line, like, it’s under $100. Right? It can cost more than that to have them fitted, but the actual cost if you’re making every car like that is very, is very low to the manufacturers. So I think you’ll see, if there’s more uptake, more critical mass, more consumer demand, all of the states move in this direction, I think the cost of these will be minimal, and the benefits in terms of saving lives will be huge.

REPORTER: How do you think you’ll go enforcing a ban on P-plate drivers [inaudible]?

JOHN BRUMBY: Sorry?

REPORTER: How do you think you’ll go enforcing a ban on P1 drivers using mobile phones?

JOHN BRUMBY: I think that’s a matter for Ken.

KEN LAY: Look, the first part of that is to make sure that we have a really strong education program that people know what is right and what is wrong. We will look at innovative ways of…enforcing this legislation…but a real key piece of this is actually working with the people, working with the kids to make sure they understand the risks and dangers of this very dangerous act.

REPORTER: And will the penalties for that stay the same [inaudible]?

KEN LAY: We’re still working through that at the moment; that’ll be discussed in the months going ahead.

REPORTER: Premier, what are the advantages of not having P-platers [inaudible] larger group of people [inaudible] young people driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs?

JOHN BRUMBY: Well, you’re allowed one peer passenger and it’s in the first year. I think it’s a sensible balance. You know, if you said that for the whole three years, some people might say that’s, you know too strong. I think it’s a sensible balance; it’s for the first year.

You know, some people use the designated driver; some use taxis, of course; some use public transport. Again, I think, you know, I had to look hard at this issue: I had a view; I think I listened to the community; I looked at the evidence and I’ve, you know, I changed my view and I think it’s the right decision. And it’s the right decision because, when you look at the evidence, it’s just overwhelming and it’s, you know, and Ken might comment, but it’s when you get the young drivers, backseat full of peer age and they get egged on and you get horrific consequences as a result of that. So, I think it’s, you know, it’s the right call and it’s the right balance.

KEN LAY: We know that the most dangerous time for a driver to be, in his driving career, is the first 12 months of being on the road. So, this is a really important piece of legislation that will help keep our young people much safer.

REPORTER: Premier, you said you’ve been talking to young people on [inaudible]…?

JOHN BRUMBY: Oh, no, I get out and about a fair bit, and so this is something that I’ve discussed informally, and discussed informally with my kids as well. And, you know, they…I talked to them last year about this and, you know, they expressed some views: they would think that this is a sensible compromise; you know, it’s not too extreme in one direction and it’s not doing nothing in the other direction, and they would think it’s a sensible compromise.

And if, you know, if you’re a parent, for those of you who’ve got kids, when you see them go out that first year they drive, you know…it’s the first year they’re on the road, they don’t have a lot of experience, you do worry about them, and you worry not just for them, but, you know, if they’ve got a car full of kids of their own age, you just worry about their safety – you do – and the statistics confirm that you should be worried about their safety. So, again, I just say I think it’s a sensible and balanced suggestion.

REPORTER: Was there a big [inaudible]?

JOHN BRUMBY: Well, there’s been a number, and I don’t know if Ken wants to comment on that, but, you know, I don’t want to talk about specific accidents, but there have been a number, as I said; it’s not every week but we probably have one of these every month. You know? There was an accident in Gippsland that I mentioned before, and the young man, he was 20, thrown out of the vehicle, no seatbelt. And, so, there’s a series of them and you just look at them and you think of the impact on families and friends and communities and, again, you know, you lean then to making the decision we announced today.

KEN LAY: A quarter of the people killed on our roads in any one year are people under the age of 25. This is a really important part in helping educate our young people about safe and responsible ways of driving. We need to get better at this, and this piece of legislation will help us do that.

JOHN BRUMBY: And, I think, on top of that, obviously, we’ve got graduated licensing, which is coming in this year, so they’ve all got to have 120 hours, and keep the log book, so you’ll get a higher standard of competence out there; the others measures today, you know, it’ll be reflected in dozens of lives saved.

REPORTER: Some say you should have done more on infrastructure – that’s one of the great ways of reducing fatality. Do you thin perhaps there could have been more money spent [inaudible]?

JOHN BRUMBY: Yeah, well, if you look at what we’re spending on the SRIP program which is the most cost effective – we’re spending more money on roads than we ever have before – but if you look at what’s targeted towards specific road improvements, safer roads, $60 million a year is a huge amount to be spending on that, so that’s coming from the TAC. We’ve added to that today with a further $50 million, so this year’s, I think it’s, what, Tim, a four-fold increase on…

TIM PALLAS: Four hundred and twenty-nine per cent increase on road safety.

JOHN BRUMBY: Four hundred and twenty-nine per cent increase on expenditure on road safety. So this is the, you know, it’s the run off, it’s the guard rails, it’s all of those that do save lives, and I don’t know whether you want to comment on this, on the road safety benefits, but the statistics on this are just stand-out, you know, in terms of the SRIP program. So, we’ve added to that, so over the next 10 years we’re gonna be spending $650 million on that, carefully targeted, and that’s a big component of the lives that’ll be saved.

REPORTER: Do you think European cars [inaudible]?

JOHN BRUMBY: Again, when we had a good look at this – and we did have a very good look at it – if you look around the world, what’s happening is this is where the world is moving as well. And it’s interesting, if you look in the EU, more and more of them, the countries in the EU, are doing exactly what we’re doing here. So, I think, you know, I’d be surprised if you don’t see, in the European Union, specific dates which are also set for the mandating of ESC and side-curtain airbags. So, that’s where to world is moving; it’s where consumers are moving.

As I say, with ESC already you’ve got 52 per cent of cars sold in Victoria are now fitted, because customers say that is what we want and we’re prepared to pay for that because we value our lives and the lives of our family and friends, and I think you’ll see a movement across Australia. So, you know, I think we’re taking the lead position in Australia, but I think it’s consistent with what is happening and what you’re seeing elsewhere throughout the world. And, so, I don’t think manufacturers will have a problem with this. You Know, they’re in the same space, they want to produce safer cars, they know that’s what families and consumers want, so I think setting these targets, you will see them move quite quickly to achieve them.

REPORTER: Peter Batchelor yesterday described yesterday’s protesters as “ugly, ugly people”. Do you agree with his comments?

JOHN BRUMBY: He made…comments about the disruption of the Parliament, I think. And I think, you know, people are entitled to protest – that’s the democratic state and country we live in – but it’s a pity if people come in and disrupt the Parliament. So, I’m not endorsing what…various comments which were made, but I would say it’s a pity, obviously, that the democratic processes are disrupted in that way, obviously with the support and assistance of the National Party.

REPORTER: Premier, what do you think of [inaudible] public servants?

JOHN BRUMBY: Well…I’ve had quite a few long discussions with the Prime Minister over recent times about a number of issues, and we’re working very closely with the Prime Minister on a number of issues, and I think it’s a good thing that senior Victorian advisors and public servants are being recruited in Canberra. You know? We’ve never got a fair deal out of Federal Government over the last decade. You know? Whether you look at things like road funding, where you look at things in education, in health, in the AHCA agreement, Victoria’s not done well. And, so, I think having Victorians in senior positions in Canberra, you can only give that a tick – that is a very positive thing for our state.

Ditto, of course, it’s Victoria which really led the development of the National Reform Agenda – you know, that’s our baby: we developed it; we took it up to Canberra; Canberra agreed to it; was the National Reform Initiative; now is the National Reform Agenda. And we know that better than anybody about the investment in human capital and the productivity benefits that can flow from that.

So, I think it’s not for me to comment on Terry. When the Prime Minister is ready to make an announcement about who’s filling that spot, he’ll make that announcement. But I think it’s a great thing, great thing for Victoria, great thing for Australia that a number of our advisors and a number of our public servants are now gonna take key positions in Canberra: I think that’s good for Australia, because we’ve been at the leading edge of policy development, and it’s good for Victoria. So, it’s something that I have actively supported and actively encouraged.

REPORTER: [Inaudible] conversations with the Prime Minister [inaudible] the Murray-Darling?

JOHN BRUMBY: No, I’ve got…some discussions coming up in the next few weeks on that with Penny Wong, and so, no, mainly what I’ve been discussing with him is COAG.

REPORTER: [Inaudible]

JOHN BRUMBY: Well, again, I’m not gonna go to the detail of that. The Prime Minister will make his announcement in his time about who is going to head up Department of Premier and Cabinet, but…I think Terry would make a magnificent contribution as the head of Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. I think he knows the way in which COAG operates; he knows the National Reform Agenda; he’s an experienced public servant; he’s worked exceptionally well with me; he worked exceptionally well, also, with the former Premier. So he knows his way round, he’s an experienced public servant, and I think he’d make a great contribution.

REPORTER: [Inaudible] Adelaide [inaudible] Mitsubishi?

JOHN BRUMBY: Well, I think it’s, obviously, a blow to them, and these things are always difficult, but, you know, the motor vehicle industry is very, very competitive. And, you know, we’ve been fortunate, I think, in Victoria: we’ve continued with three manufacturers; we obviously had the Ford announcement last year about the engine plant, so it’s a difficult global industry at the moment.

The…I think South Australia will get over that – you know, you tend to get over these: you remember, was it 15 years ago, I think 20 years ago, Victoria had Nissan, and Nissan closed up, and it was a short, sharp adjustment at the time, but the state got over it, and it’s moved on and we’re now an economic powerhouse.

So this will be difficult, I think, in South Australia; it will have some flow-on impacts elsewhere in Victoria through suppliers. I think they’ll be relatively minor here in Victoria, but there will be some impacts, and I think, you know, South Australia will move into new job opportunities in the future in some of the newer industries, in IT and biotech and tourism and so on. But it will be…I think, difficult for them in the short term.

REPORTER: Why did you knock back the bill that the Liberals [inaudible] this morning? [Inaudible]

JOHN BRUMBY: It’s just…not necessary. So, we’ve got the Environmental Monitor, who is the head of the EPA, Mick Bourke, and…his job is to monitor their environment. We’ve put aside a $100 million environment bond, so you’ve got tougher controls than have ever been in place; you know, much, much tougher than when the channel has been dredged in the past, as it has been on a number of occasions.

And the Environmental Monitor announced on Sunday that he’ll be releasing all of that data that he gets: it’ll be released online; all of the weekly data that comes in will be released immediately. He’ll be releasing daily updates on the water quality around all of the beaches around Melbourne, and I, for one…with all of the Government, are very confident that this provides the best possible protection to ensure the quality of our bay going forward. So, it’s just simply not necessary.

REPORTER: [Inaudible]

JOHN BRUMBY: I’m advised that the…Blue Wedges is seeking an injunction and that’ll be a matter for the courts to determine. As I said to you before, we’ve done everything by the book. The Environment Management Plan has been approved by the Federal Minister, Peter Garrett – it’s, in fact, been strengthened – so, you know, it’s as stringent as you can get; it’s all about protecting the quality of the bay.

It’s been released publicly, by the way, so people can see that. We’ve got the Environment Monitor, so we’ve done everything by the book, so we’re very confident of the state’s position. We wouldn’t be doing this project if we weren’t confident that it’s the right project for the state. So, they’ll go through their legal process, and we’ll see what the court says, but, subject to that, the project will start tomorrow.