Ms CARNEY - 2006-11-28
The introduction of the 130 km/h speed limit on major Territory highways means that the car testing industry, valued annually at about $9m a year, will be taken away from Alice Springs and Central Australia which will, obviously, be an enormous blow to those businesses involved. Will you and your colleagues consider introducing a permit system which would allow this valuable industry to continue in Central Australia? If not, how do you intend to replace this estimated $9m that will soon be gone from Alice Springs and the Central Australian economy?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the important issue to tackle in looking at our road safety record and the recommendations we had was to look after Territorians. That is my first …
Dr Lim: Alice Springs people are not Territorians?
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: … and foremost concern as Chief Minister and shared by members of this government.
Dr Lim: Businesses are going to suffer a $9m loss.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Greatorex!
Dr Lim: Obviously, you do not care for Territorians there.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, you would have thought the member for Greatorex, as a former doctor, would have had the safety of Territorians …
Ms Carney: No, he will always be a doctor.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, members!
Ms MARTIN: I apologise. As a doctor, you would have thought he would have had the safety of Territorians as the most important thing for government to strive for - but no ..
Dr Lim: Businesses would like to keep going. You are taking $9m away from them
Ms MARTIN: The member for Greatorex and the Leader of the Opposition are arguing for an industry that drives cars at 300km/h on our roads. That is the speed that they are doing – there is no backing away from that. They are taking cars as fast as they can go. I have had reports about animals and large birds that have run into those cars. You do not know when a kangaroo is going to come on the road. It worries me considerably, and I would have thought it was worrying every Territorian …
Mrs Braham: Will government compensate them?
Ms MARTIN: From government’s point of view, Territorians safety is the highest thing we have to be concerned about. Saving lives and changing our road culture is our first priority.
I recognise that there is an input by testing cars. I have not heard a figure like $9m; in fact, I was hearing one considerably less than $1m.
Members interjecting.
Mrs Braham: You do not know what you are talking about.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: When you have to balance the safety of Territorians against very expensive cars being tested on our roads, I am going to go for the safety of Territorians.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the important issue to tackle in looking at our road safety record and the recommendations we had was to look after Territorians. That is my first …
Dr Lim: Alice Springs people are not Territorians?
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: … and foremost concern as Chief Minister and shared by members of this government.
Dr Lim: Businesses are going to suffer a $9m loss.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Greatorex!
Dr Lim: Obviously, you do not care for Territorians there.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, you would have thought the member for Greatorex, as a former doctor, would have had the safety of Territorians …
Ms Carney: No, he will always be a doctor.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, members!
Ms MARTIN: I apologise. As a doctor, you would have thought he would have had the safety of Territorians as the most important thing for government to strive for - but no ..
Dr Lim: Businesses would like to keep going. You are taking $9m away from them
Ms MARTIN: The member for Greatorex and the Leader of the Opposition are arguing for an industry that drives cars at 300km/h on our roads. That is the speed that they are doing – there is no backing away from that. They are taking cars as fast as they can go. I have had reports about animals and large birds that have run into those cars. You do not know when a kangaroo is going to come on the road. It worries me considerably, and I would have thought it was worrying every Territorian …
Mrs Braham: Will government compensate them?
Ms MARTIN: From government’s point of view, Territorians safety is the highest thing we have to be concerned about. Saving lives and changing our road culture is our first priority.
I recognise that there is an input by testing cars. I have not heard a figure like $9m; in fact, I was hearing one considerably less than $1m.
Members interjecting.
Mrs Braham: You do not know what you are talking about.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: When you have to balance the safety of Territorians against very expensive cars being tested on our roads, I am going to go for the safety of Territorians.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016