Youth Driver Forum
| About this Item |
Subjects | Road Safety; Training Schemes; Youth; Accidents |
Speakers | George Mr Thomas |
Business | Private Members Statements |
Page: 74
Mr THOMAS GEORGE (Lismore) [6.21 p.m.]: I pay tribute to the Northern Star for its Protect Our Youth Program. I congratulate the editor, Russell Elridge, Jane Gardner and the team on conducting a Youth Driver Forum in Lismore last night. Unfortunately, I could not attend the forum because Parliament was sitting. Young drivers, appropriate training and restrictions have long been a major concern to me. As a result of community anxiety about young driver accidents over the past 18 months and prior I have organised for State parliamentary representatives to visit the area and meet with key organisations, stakeholders and individuals.
Following a tragedy at Kyogle the former Minister for Transport, the Hon. Carl Scully, met with student representatives from all local schools in the Lismore electorate. He had a very successful meeting with young people who had, or were in the process of getting, their learners or provisional licences. Following another tragedy in the area, Staysafe committee chairman Paul Gibson met with the parents of the boys tragically killed in the horrific smash near Byron Bay—Karen and Robert Eveleigh, Robert and Jacky Wells, Mark and Ann New, and Maria Bolt. Even in their grief those parents were able to address the forum and make some recommendations in the hope that other parents do not have to suffer what they have gone through. I thank them sincerely for that. In attendance at the Youth Driver Forum were approximately 200 young drivers, police, grieving parents and concerned citizens.
The theme of the forum was that driver education must be in schools now. Young people believe they need more driver education. Courtney Golding, a young girl who went to school with the four boys tragically killed, said that young people were prepared to travel as far as Brisbane to attend driver training school. We must encourage young people to gain that education. A number of suggestions were made last night and they will be presented to me, the Minister and the shadow Minister. Accidents on our roads are a problem for all electorates throughout the State and the nation. I pay tribute to Superintendent Bruce Lyons, who spoke at the forum. I also congratulate Constable Peter Ellis from the police rescue unit who travels around the schools, showing students police rescue equipment and accident scenes. I commend the Northern Star, the young people, the parents and others involved in last night's forum. Driver education is so important because of the many tragedies on our roads. I hope that governments of all persuasions can take on board any suggestions to make our roads safer for our young people. We are certainly mindful of the concerns so clearly expressed at last night's meeting.
[Private members' statements interrupted.]