The Beattie Government has identified the safety of students travelling to and from school as one of the most important issues for both parents and communities.  The actions we have taken are summarised below:  

• In 2003, a trial of seatbelts on school buses was conducted in response to recommendations made by the independent School Transport Safety Task Force and the Interdepartmental Working Group.   
• The trial involved fitting ADR68/00 seats and seat belts to 12 school buses throughout Queensland operating on long steep and very steep bus routes – where standing passengers are currently not permitted. The buses involved in the trial were split into either a low, medium or high encouragement group in order to measure the effect of education on seat belt wearing rates and student behaviour in the buses.   
• The evaluation of the trial, which ran for six months, was conducted by the independent transport research organisation ARRB Transport Research. The key aim of the evaluation was to establish seat belt usage rates and identify the impact of seat belts on student behaviour.
•   The School Transport Safety Interdepartmental Working Group has been reconvened to examine the results of the trial and further investigate issues such as legal responsibility and compliance. The taskforce will provide recommendations by April 2004. 

§       Development of the School Environment Safety Guidelines to help local schools and communities to improve safety around schools;

§       Safe Communities Trial to assist school based community groups through facilitating, engaging and observing these groups as they considered transport safety issues in their local community;

§       Increased school transport safety public education to improve road safety for children travelling to and from school;

§       SchoolBUS (School Bus Upgrade Scheme), which provides $3 million each year to help school bus operators across Queensland progressively upgrade their fleets; and

§       Launch and implementation of the Managing Student Behaviour Training Package for school bus operators.

Desley Boyle MP
Member for Cairns
Ph 4051 2868  /  Fax  4051 6760\                               (TOP)

Desley Boyle's response of 27th January 2004 didn't address the actual questions - so Kim Bax emailed her again on the 27th January 2004:-                                   (TOP)

Dear Ms. Boyle,

 thankyou for your email to me of Tuesday 27th January 2004.  However, you neither acknowledge or answer the questions I asked in my original correspondence - so for the benefit of your electors (and most importantly, for the benefit of the children who use school transport in your electorate), I'll ask those questions again:-

• Have you read the full text of Professor Joubert's letter (available at www.geocities.com/seatbelts2004 )  ?  Professor Joubert is the author of all the current Australian Design Rules (in relation to interstate coaches), he's been awarded the Order of Australia in relation to his services to engineering and he headed the committees in the wake of the Kempsey/Grafton bus crash horror (1989 - 52 dead, many more horribly injured).

• Do you unequivocally support the FULL implementation of the recommendations of the Queensland "Task Force" within the life of the next Parliament (2004/2007)?

• In what practical ways do you (or have already), intend to support/advocate for the full implementation of "Task Force" recommendations? (e.g., for instance, speaking in parliament, writing letters, serving on committees etc.)

In reading your correspondence to myself of 27th January 2004, I am very much reminded of the comedy skit that sometimes graces the end of the ABC's "7.30" Report, (John Clark and Phillip Dawes).  They parody that typical (and infuriating), political response - you know, the one where the politician answers everything but the question that was placed in front of them.  That scenario is very funny - but it is also extremely sad, and goes a long way towards illustrating (in a very stark way), why many people have lost faith in politicians. The residents of Cairns deserve a GREAT deal better from you when it comes to the safety of their children.

From what I can gather, you are a highly educated and intelligent woman.  Can I suggest you read my original correspondence more carefully - so as to provide a thoughtful, personal and considered response - one that acknowledges and addresses the questions that have been put to you.

Regards - Kim Bax (mum, without a degree)                     (TOP)

4 weeks later, on the 24th February 2004, Desley Boyle still hadn't responded to Kim Bax's email of 27th January 2004 - so Kim Bax sent her a reminder:-                                 (TOP)

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