Thursday, 15 August 2019

 Ms PULFORD (Western Victoria—Minister for Roads, Minister for Road Safety and the TAC, Minister for Fishing and Boating) (12:30): I would like to update the house on the progress of our regional road safety forums that are currently underway. As I remarked not very many moments ago in the house, this year has been a tragic one on Victoria’s roads. Much of the increase in the number of lives lost has been on regional roads and rural roads, and it is people from country Victoria who are dying on our roads in far greater numbers than any of us should ever have to countenance. That is why it is incredibly important for us to hear the views of people who live in regional and rural Victoria about this issue that affects them so profoundly.

Following our road safety summit in Melbourne in May, I committed to provide opportunities for local communities across Victoria to share and hear ideas on how road safety could be improved in their local area. So far three forums have been held, in Ballarat, in Marysville and in Shepparton. They have all been well attended, indeed in some very, very trying weather conditions. It was sideways icy rain in Ballarat and not a whole lot better in Marysville or Shepparton on the nights of the forums. I would like to particularly thank members of the community who attended and indeed members of Victoria Police who also had a lot to contribute. Each forum delivered insightful and varied conversations. Key issues raised include road safety education, licensing, road conditions, speed, wildlife management and discussion about which tier of government is responsible for which roads and which rules.

Following the forums, registered attendees have been sent surveys to complete to ensure that their concerns are collected. We have in each instance had people attend these forums who have lost loved ones as a result of crashes on our roads, and I particularly thank and pay tribute to those people for having the courage to tell very, very difficult personal stories to us. We are continuing to roll out our $1.4 billion investment and, in addition, $804 million to improve roads— (Time expired)