Road safety
401. Mrs Kirrilee Warrto thePremier:
It has now been more than a year since the Premier's highly publicised road safety forum at which he promised to do whatever it takes to save lives on the roads, yet 2025 has delivered the worst year-to-date road toll on record while millions are mounting up in the Road Trauma Trust Account.
(1) Will the Premier guarantee that he has done everything to invest in road safety?
(2) When will the government implement sensible solutions put forward by the opposition, including the establishment of a life-saving Mid West rescue helicopter, permanently staging AI camera technology in the regions and boosting police presence on country roads?
Mr Roger Cook replied:
(1)–(2) I thank the member for the question. Of course, she is correct; it is a matter of public record that we have spent a record amount on road safety, particularly through our billion-dollar project to upgrade road safety across 10,000 kilometres of roads throughout the state. That is about continuing to widen and strengthen the road shoulders and install audible edging and, of course, audible central lines. That is an important part of continuing to make sure that we do our part for road safety. I am very proud of the fact that we are now moving on to high-speed local government roads. A team is working in conjunction with the Western Australian Local Government Association to identify the high-priority projects as we now start to roll out the next phase of that important program.
After the round table that the member mentioned, more than $32.5 million for more regional road safety initiatives was announced, including for road safety treatments, new breath and drug testing buses in regional areas and increased police traffic enforcement in regional areas, plus high-visibility police cars and improved traffic-data gathering. An additional investment has also been made in the recent budget, including $125 million to expand the regional road safety program, which I mentioned earlier; $17.5 million on new signalised pedestrian crossings, including the replacement of 19 current warden-controlled school crossings around the state; $22 million for a hooning package to catch and deter hoons on our roads; and a commitment of $15.4 million towards establishing the state's dedicated heavy vehicle driver training facility.
In response to the concerns at the round table, a bill known as "Tom's Law" passed seven days after it was introduced into Parliament in November. Under the new regulations, red P-plate drivers are now limited to carrying only one passenger in their vehicle at all times.
Another safety initiative is that there will be a step change in road statistics across the state in our safety camera program. Our state-of-the-art safety cameras, including cameras on the Kwinana Freeway, will be issuing fines from 8 October. Many people have seen just how important this new technology is in terms of our vigilance around road safety. Of our six safety camera trailers, two are based in Albany and rotate around the Great Southern and South West, and two are based in Geraldton and are deployed across the Mid West and northern Wheatbelt. The safety cameras are capable of detecting drivers and front-seat passengers either not wearing or incorrectly wearing a seatbelt; illegal mobile phone use, which includes holding or resting a phone on a person's body, including in their lap; and speeding.
We are also embarking on important road safety campaigns such as the "Red plate. One mate" program; the drink driving "Not worth the (beep) risk" campaign; the "Speeding shatters your excuses" campaign; the "Be a Wheelmate leavers campaign; the seatbelt "just click" and stay safe campaign; and the "Anyone can save a life—15 minutes is all it takes" first-aid training campaign. Of course, we are doing important work around our new five-year, $5 million investment in road safety research that will focus on driver behaviour and culture, particularly amongst young drivers.
I also want to commend the Shire of Augusta–Margaret River and the RAC for conducting the current program looking at how reduced speed limits can improve road safety. The Shire of Augusta–Margaret River is working with the RAC to trial a whole range of reduced road speed areas. That will provide us with a three-year deep insight. That data will continue to inform us on how we can continue to keep people safe and the role speed plays in road safety. I am very much looking forward to seeing the results of that campaign.
402. Mrs Kirrilee Warrto thePremier:
I have a supplementary question.
Why will the Premier not commit to a life-saving Mid West rescue helicopter based in Geraldton?
Mr Roger Cook replied:
At the moment we are currently building a $188 million hospital at Geraldton.
Ms Rita Saffioti: One that you neglected.
Mr Roger Cook: As the Deputy Premier observes, it is one that the Liberal and National Parties neglected for eight years.
The Minister for Emergency Services responded to that question in this very place just a short time ago to say that the whole nature of road rescue, or rescue helicopter deployment, is evolving as helicopters become faster, have a longer range and are able to access many parts of the state within a short time. Ultimately, this is an operational matter and we will be advised by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services about how we can keep the most Western Australians safe with the assets we have. Mercifully, because of this government, we have seen significant investment in new, bigger and more advanced technology, which means that these assets are the best on show.
The Speaker: That concludes question time.
