Page 2904 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 14 September 1994
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Mr Kaine: On a point of order, Madam Speaker: The Minister clearly does not intend to answer the question that was asked. Would you invite him to sit down so that we can get on with question time.
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Kaine, I believe that Mr Lamont is answering the question. Have you finished, Mr Lamont?
Mr Kaine: No, he is not, and he just said that he was going to answer the question she did not ask, which is exactly what he has been doing for seven minutes now.
MR LAMONT: Yes, I know; but I have been trying to help the Opposition all day. Mrs Carnell does not know the question to ask. Any cost associated with the introduction of a competency based driver training system must be measured against the horrendous, well-publicised and acknowledged cost of road trauma and road deaths in this country, and in particular that ascribed to the lack of competence by new drivers, particularly in the age group of 18 to 25 years. Mrs Carnell, before you seek to get a very belated headline out of this, you should understand that that is the comparison you should be making.
MRS CARNELL: I ask a supplementary question, Madam Speaker. The question I asked was: What the cost of anti-skid training and first aid certificates would be under the new proposal? Mr Lamont, is it true that the cost to instructors of accreditation will be as much as $5,000 each?
MR LAMONT: Madam Speaker, I thank Mrs Carnell for the supplementary question, because it gives me another opportunity to demonstrate Mrs Carnell's ignorance of what is happening within the driver training industry in this country. It is interesting to note that the in-principle proposals, which have already been well debated within the professional driver instruction industry in this Territory, have received overwhelming endorsement. What you are talking about is one individual driver instructor who is not a member of the PDIA - - -
Mrs Carnell: I am talking about the association.
MR LAMONT: I am sorry. The PDIA, who saw me as late as this week, have been involved in the total review process. Not only have they been involved in the review of transport regulation in the ACT; they have already, of their own volition, compiled extensive accreditation programs for their own members. These are people who you are alleging have not been involved. They have already developed comprehensive driver training packages - - -
Mrs Carnell: Which you said that you would not use.
MR LAMONT: These packages are consistent with the objectives outlined in the transport regulation review, and I applaud them. Mrs Carnell says, "Which you said that you would not use". Mrs Carnell, I am committed to testing the veracity of any organisation and any course that it proposes, and the PDIA were informed of that when they saw me this week.
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