Mr BONSON - 2007-06-20
The government has introduced demerit points to crack down on hoon drivers. Will the government adopt the CLP’s plan announced this morning on ABC radio by the member for Katherine to double the demerit points for some offences?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Millner for his question. There certainly have been many comments in the last couple of days on demerit points. There were some comments on radio this morning that tended to sum up the government’s position, and that is not one of them, I have to say.
The comment this morning on ABC radio this morning was:
Those comments were from the shadow spokesperson for Transport, the member for Katherine, on ABC radio this morning, so I am looking forward to the CLP’s bipartisan support for the demerit points legislation when it goes through the Chamber in August.
Another quote this morning from the member for Katherine was:
Curious, but yes, indeed, 11 of our 21 recommendations from the Road Safety Task Force that this government has adopted do, in fact, relate to education. We have allocated an extra $250 000 to promote the education of road safety awareness annually. This is another curious comment from the member for Katherine, who said on radio again this morning:
I am not sure if the member for Katherine wants demerit points for boat owners as well. That was CLP policy that she announced: they would randomly breath test boat owners on the water.
Yesterday, the Leader of the Opposition was caught out being hypocritical. Today the member for Katherine has been caught out being hypocritical. When you play politics with an issue as important as road safety, you will get caught out.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Millner for his question. There certainly have been many comments in the last couple of days on demerit points. There were some comments on radio this morning that tended to sum up the government’s position, and that is not one of them, I have to say.
The comment this morning on ABC radio this morning was:
- Yes, it is a deterrent and it makes it safe on the road, absolutely.
Those comments were from the shadow spokesperson for Transport, the member for Katherine, on ABC radio this morning, so I am looking forward to the CLP’s bipartisan support for the demerit points legislation when it goes through the Chamber in August.
Another quote this morning from the member for Katherine was:
- One of the things that the Northern Territory government always refers to in any respect of Territory life is education, education, education, and they are right.
Curious, but yes, indeed, 11 of our 21 recommendations from the Road Safety Task Force that this government has adopted do, in fact, relate to education. We have allocated an extra $250 000 to promote the education of road safety awareness annually. This is another curious comment from the member for Katherine, who said on radio again this morning:
- Drink driving attracting three points is not enough, it needs to be double that.
I am not sure if the member for Katherine wants demerit points for boat owners as well. That was CLP policy that she announced: they would randomly breath test boat owners on the water.
Yesterday, the Leader of the Opposition was caught out being hypocritical. Today the member for Katherine has been caught out being hypocritical. When you play politics with an issue as important as road safety, you will get caught out.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016