Mr MITCHELL - 1995-11-30
What plans exist to reduce the dangers caused by drink driving on our roads, particularly over the Christmas/new year period?
A member interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I will pick up that interjection because I think ...
Page 1103
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr PALMER: Mr Speaker, I was done for it and I admit that, but I think the member for MacDonnell should explain to the House what role alcohol played in his crashing of a plane. Alcohol remains a major factor ...
Members interjecting.
Mr Bell interjecting.
Mr PALMER: ... a fact of which members would be only too aware. According to the Road Safety Council's annual report, tabled at these sittings, alcohol is a factor in 20 road fatalities out of a total ...
Mr BELL: A point of order, Mr Speaker! I will not sit here and cop that. I ask the member to withdraw that. I had to put up with his federal colleague in the House of Representatives last night making ...
Mr Manzie interjecting.
Mr BELL: We have had the Chief Minister sounding off about ...
Mr SPEAKER: Order! What is your point of order? It has nothing to do with anything that has been said previously. What is your point of order?
Mr BELL: If the minister wants to get up in here and suggest that there was some problem with alcohol and myself and an aeroplane ...
Mr Coulter: Make a personal explanation.
Mr BELL: Make a personal explanation after the broadcast is turned off? No way! I am simply saying that, if he says that by way of a slimy aside, he should be asked either to substantiate it or to withdraw it.
Mr SPEAKER: Once again, because of interjections, I did not hear the comment. If the Minister for Transport and Works has reflected on the member for MacDonnell, I ask him to withdraw.
Mr PALMER: Mr Speaker, I will withdraw any words that may have insulted the member for MacDonnell. However, if you are going to grow beards, you have to cop razor blades.
Living With Alcohol has been involved in a large number of highly successful public education campaigns, including Operation Drinksense, the Save the Driver program and the recent launch of breathalysers in pubs. This year, with $50 000 funding from Living With Alcohol, the Road Safety Council will conduct an innovative alcohol awareness campaign from
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13 December through to 6 January. The central focus will be a larger-than-life photographic image of a police officer holding a breathalyser unit. One is being uncovered now behind me. These freestanding images will be positioned strategically at 20 locations throughout the Territory. This approach will get around one of the major problems with awareness campaigns over the festive season, which is that few people targeted by these campaigns spend their time watching television or reading newspapers. They are at Christmas parties, not sitting at home waiting for our next lifestyle message on the responsible use of alcohol. As a consequence, this campaign will use this larger-than-life police force which will trigger hopefully anti-drink driving messages in people whilst they are on the roads. Ideally, people who are driving to work knowing that they will be attending a Christmas party that night will see one of these larger-than-life police officers holding a breath-test unit and that will trigger the realisation that police have set up extensive roadside breath-test stations over the holiday period and will prompt them to think about responsible driving. Even if they drive past, shaking their heads wondering who came up with the bizarre idea of getting the message across in this way, we will still have made the point.
In addition, posters with the same image will be placed in hotels, clubs and large business premises. Courier companies, such as Kwikasair, together with the Darwin Bus Service, NT police and Darwin's 2 taxi companies, will attach magnetic stickers to their vehicles to help get the message across. Radio has been identified as the most effective medium, particularly for reaching remote areas and the variable target audience. This public awareness technique has proven effective in other parts of Australia and overseas.
I would like to thank the Alcohol and Other Drugs Unit of the Territory Department of Health Services, for its decision to fund this campaign, and also the private sector for its strong support and cooperation. We need to get the message across that, if people drink and drive, they have a good chance of being caught, but that, if they miss being caught, they have a good chance of being dead. If such drivers cannot think of themselves, they should at least spare a thought for those whom they leave behind to clean up the mess.
Before I finish, I have here a picture of one Gary Casey. I recall that, when I was a little boy at school, Gary Casey appeared rather large. We used to look on him as a giant. Over the years, I gradually caught up with Casey in terms of size, but now they have foisted a 10-foot picture of Gary Casey on me, and my old inferiority complex is coming back! In closing, I wish Territorians a happy, prosperous and safe Christmas and new year.
Page 1105
A member interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I will pick up that interjection because I think ...
Page 1103
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr PALMER: Mr Speaker, I was done for it and I admit that, but I think the member for MacDonnell should explain to the House what role alcohol played in his crashing of a plane. Alcohol remains a major factor ...
Members interjecting.
Mr Bell interjecting.
Mr PALMER: ... a fact of which members would be only too aware. According to the Road Safety Council's annual report, tabled at these sittings, alcohol is a factor in 20 road fatalities out of a total ...
Mr BELL: A point of order, Mr Speaker! I will not sit here and cop that. I ask the member to withdraw that. I had to put up with his federal colleague in the House of Representatives last night making ...
Mr Manzie interjecting.
Mr BELL: We have had the Chief Minister sounding off about ...
Mr SPEAKER: Order! What is your point of order? It has nothing to do with anything that has been said previously. What is your point of order?
Mr BELL: If the minister wants to get up in here and suggest that there was some problem with alcohol and myself and an aeroplane ...
Mr Coulter: Make a personal explanation.
Mr BELL: Make a personal explanation after the broadcast is turned off? No way! I am simply saying that, if he says that by way of a slimy aside, he should be asked either to substantiate it or to withdraw it.
Mr SPEAKER: Once again, because of interjections, I did not hear the comment. If the Minister for Transport and Works has reflected on the member for MacDonnell, I ask him to withdraw.
Mr PALMER: Mr Speaker, I will withdraw any words that may have insulted the member for MacDonnell. However, if you are going to grow beards, you have to cop razor blades.
Living With Alcohol has been involved in a large number of highly successful public education campaigns, including Operation Drinksense, the Save the Driver program and the recent launch of breathalysers in pubs. This year, with $50 000 funding from Living With Alcohol, the Road Safety Council will conduct an innovative alcohol awareness campaign from
Page 1104
13 December through to 6 January. The central focus will be a larger-than-life photographic image of a police officer holding a breathalyser unit. One is being uncovered now behind me. These freestanding images will be positioned strategically at 20 locations throughout the Territory. This approach will get around one of the major problems with awareness campaigns over the festive season, which is that few people targeted by these campaigns spend their time watching television or reading newspapers. They are at Christmas parties, not sitting at home waiting for our next lifestyle message on the responsible use of alcohol. As a consequence, this campaign will use this larger-than-life police force which will trigger hopefully anti-drink driving messages in people whilst they are on the roads. Ideally, people who are driving to work knowing that they will be attending a Christmas party that night will see one of these larger-than-life police officers holding a breath-test unit and that will trigger the realisation that police have set up extensive roadside breath-test stations over the holiday period and will prompt them to think about responsible driving. Even if they drive past, shaking their heads wondering who came up with the bizarre idea of getting the message across in this way, we will still have made the point.
In addition, posters with the same image will be placed in hotels, clubs and large business premises. Courier companies, such as Kwikasair, together with the Darwin Bus Service, NT police and Darwin's 2 taxi companies, will attach magnetic stickers to their vehicles to help get the message across. Radio has been identified as the most effective medium, particularly for reaching remote areas and the variable target audience. This public awareness technique has proven effective in other parts of Australia and overseas.
I would like to thank the Alcohol and Other Drugs Unit of the Territory Department of Health Services, for its decision to fund this campaign, and also the private sector for its strong support and cooperation. We need to get the message across that, if people drink and drive, they have a good chance of being caught, but that, if they miss being caught, they have a good chance of being dead. If such drivers cannot think of themselves, they should at least spare a thought for those whom they leave behind to clean up the mess.
Before I finish, I have here a picture of one Gary Casey. I recall that, when I was a little boy at school, Gary Casey appeared rather large. We used to look on him as a giant. Over the years, I gradually caught up with Casey in terms of size, but now they have foisted a 10-foot picture of Gary Casey on me, and my old inferiority complex is coming back! In closing, I wish Territorians a happy, prosperous and safe Christmas and new year.
Page 1105
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016