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Correspondence between Kim Bax and Peter Beattie in regard to seatbelts on school buses

Peter Beattie - MP for Brisbane Central & Premier of Queensland (ALP). Click on the picture to email him.

Peter Beattie's reply to my questions of 22nd January 2004, received on the 30th January 2004 (TOP)

Thank you for your email of 22 January 2004 about seat belts on school buses and progress on implementing recommendations made by the Queensland School Transport Safety Task Force. The Premier has noted your comments and asked me to respond on his behalf

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 School Transport Safety Task Force delivered its final report to the Government in September 2001. The Government set up an Interdepartmental Working Group (IWG) to examine the policy, operational and financial implications of the Task Force recommendations. The IWG submitted a report to government which provided a series of recommendations based on the ideas put forward by the Task Force.

These recommendations included trials of 30km/h school zones, seat belts on school buses, and a community engagement program to encourage ownership of school transport safety in the community. There were also a number of education and bus-related recommendations. In response to this report the government approved $4.63M funding in 2002/03 to commence the interdepartmental working group recommendations, as well as $4.03M per year ongoing funding.

As previously advised, 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 aim of this trial was to identify and develop solutions for a range of legal, behavioural and operational issues.

The evaluation of the trial, which ran for six months, was conducted by the independent transport research organisation ARRB Transport Research.

The taskforce will provide recommendations to the government by April 2004. A re-elected Beattie government will consider these recommendations for implementation.

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.

Other initiatives implemented as a direct result of the School Transport Safety Task Force include:

Thank you for taking the time to contact the Premier. He trusts this information is of assistance to you.

My reply - and further questions - that I sent Peter Beattie on the 31st January 2004 (TOP)

I'll get straight to the point by briefly reproducing key paragraphs from that email (I've added emphasis to aid comprehension) - and then I will provide you with some key questions. Here goes:-

"The taskforce will provide recommendations to the government by April 2004. A re-elected Beattie government will consider these recommendations for implementation.

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"

1. Could you confirm (as implied in your email by the use of the word "consider") - that you are NOT (as yet) committed to implementing the recommendations of the 2001 "Queensland School Transport Safety Task Force" in the 2004/2007 Parliamentary term?

I remind you that the "Queensland School Transport Safety Task Force" (2001), recommended the fitting of seatbelts on Queensland school bus over 15 years (amongst others things).

2. WHO is on the new unidentified "Task Force" referred to in your email?

3. How many new "Task Force's" does it take to simply seatbelt a child on a schoolbus?

5. WHAT is the title of this new unidentified "Task Force"? Or is this unidentified "Task Force" actually "The School Transport Safety Interdepartmental Working Group" that you also refer to? Could you please clarify this point.

6. Could you please assure me that the new untitled "Task Force" referred to in this quote from your email is NOT "ARRB Transport Research" - a commercial organisation, totally unaccountable to community interests and dependent on Government contracts for its commercial survival? Or composed of people having an interest in that organisation?

7. Could you provide me with the contact details and identity of each member of this new "Task Force"?

8. By WHAT process was the membership of "The School Transport Safety Interdepartmental Working Group" decided?

9. Could you please supply me with the contact details and identity of each member of "The School Transport Safety Interdepartmental Working Group."

10. Have you personally read Professor Joubert's letter to myself (of August 2000 - and reproduced on www.geocities.com/seatbelts2004 ), which predicts the potential of 50 dead kids in a school bus accident - and 50 more injured ones? Are you also personally aware of Professor Joubert's background and expertise?

I would point out to you that in the year 2001 a Government convened Task Force recommended the introduction of seatbelts on school buses over 15 years - in the year 2004, that recommendation has now been stretched to 18 years - and if you get round to implementing the recommendation by 2007 (the end of the next term), it will be 21 years.

Please note that the questions above are number 1 through to 10. In your response, could you please answer them in EXACTLY the same way e.g. numbered 1 through to 10.

4 weeks later, on the 28th February 2004, Mr. Beattie had still not replied. So I sent him a reminder (TOP)

Mr. Beattie's response of 2nd March 2004 completely avoided all the questions I asked him on the 31st January 2004, so I sent him another email. (TOP)

Dear Mr. Beattie,

My correspondence was sent to YOU, not Mr. Lucas. I was seeking YOUR views, not the views of Mr. Lucas. Actually, that statement is not quite accurate, as I have (in fact), already sought Mr. Lucas's views. My original questions were sent to him on the 22nd January 2004 (as they were sent to you) - and 5 weeks & 5 days later (plus one official reminder notice after 4 weeks), that correspondence has not even been acknowledged by him.

In a nutshell, Mr. Beattie - I sent YOU 10 crucial questions on the 31st January 2004, and as the Premier of this State, I expect YOU to answer them. What's the problem? Are you shrinking from my 10th question? Don't you want to put it writing that you've read Professor Joubert's horrific prediction?

Mr. Beattie - my questions of 31st January 2004 were sent to YOU - and until YOU answer them, they are still outstanding to YOU. As for Mr. Lucas, he's still responsible for the questions I've already sent him. For your convenience, here's a link directly to my questions of 31st January 2004 - I await I reply, along with very many other Queenslanders:-

http://www.geocities.com/seatbelts2004/peter_beattie.htm

Regards - Kim Bax

PS - I have also posted this further correspondence to the above link (TOP)

On the 3rd March 2004, I got this acknowledgement from Mr. Beattie (TOP)

Dear Mrs Bax

Thank you for your message to the Premier. Your message has been forwarded to his office.

Michele Rice
For the Office of the Premier (TOP)

My brief response to Peter Beattie's acknowledgement of 3rd March 2004 - sent on 3rd March 2004 (TOP)

Thankyou Michelle - and to aid you further, here's an EXACT link to my questions of 31st January 2004 (to Mr. Beattie), that I referred to in my email of 2nd March 2004:-

http://www.geocities.com/seatbelts2004/peter_beattie.htm#reply31jan

Also, you may wish to pass on this quote (from myself), to Mr. Beattie - as I will certainly be distributing it widely myself:-

"Paying out for football stadiums before seatbelting kids is like my hubby blowing the family budget on a bells and whistles home-entertainment centre, before fixing the brakes on the family car. Fortunately, my hubby - unlike Mr. Beattie - puts safety before toys." (TOP)

On the 10th March 2004, I got this further response from Mr. Beattie:- (TOP)

Dear Mrs Bax

Thank you for your emails of 28 February 2004, 1 March 2004 and 3 March

2004 concerning seatbelts on school buses. I have been requested to

reply to you on the Premier's behalf.

The contents of your email messages have been noted.

As previously advised, the issue you have raised falls within the

responsibilities of the Honourable Paul Lucas MP, Minister for Transport

and Main Roads.

I have taken the liberty of forwarding a copy of your emails to Mr Lucas

for his consideration and reply direct to you.

Again, thank you for contacting the Premier's Home Page.

Yours sincerely

Rob Whiddon

Chief of Staff (TOP)

Mr. Beattie is STILL avoiding my questions - so I sent him another email on the 10th March 2004:- (TOP)

Dear Rob,

I would re-direct the Premier to the correspondence I sent him on the 2nd March 2004, located via this link:-

http://www.geocities.com/seatbelts2005/peter_beattie.htm#me2march

and in particular, THIS quote from that email:-

"Mr. Beattie - my questions of 31st January 2004 were sent to YOU - and until YOU answer them, they are still outstanding to YOU. As for Mr. Lucas, he's still responsible for the questions I've already sent him. For your convenience, here's a link directly to my questions of 31st January 2004 - I await I reply, along with very many other Queenslanders:-

http://www.geocities.com/seatbelts2004/peter_beattie.htm "

And to make things even EASIER for Mr. Beattie - here's an even more direct link to my questions of 31st January 2004:-

http://www.geocities.com/seatbelts2005/peter_beattie.htm#reply31jan

Rob - could you tell Mr. Beattie that this correspondence may well ricochet back and forth for 3 years (or even longer), until he faces up to his responsibilities - both as an adult, and as Premier of this State - to answer direct questions that have been put to HIM.

Regards - Kim Bax

PS - the front page of my website is now located at:-

http://www.geocities.com/seatbelts2005/index.htm

The Premier's Office acknowledged my email of 10th March 2004 on the same day:- (TOP)

Dear Ms Bax

Thank you for your message to the Premier. Your message has been forwarded to his office.

Michele Rice
For the Office of the Premier (TOP)

On the 12th March 2004 I got another email from Peter Beattie. He's still refusing to say in writing whether or not he's read Professor Joubert's prediction of 50 dead kids in a school bus accident:- (TOP)

Dear Mrs Bax

Thank you for your emails 2 and 3 March 2004 concerning seatbelts on

school buses. I have been requested to reply to you on the Premier's

behalf.

The contents of your email messages have been noted.

As previously advised, the issue you have raised falls within the

responsibilities of the Honourable Paul Lucas MP, Minister for Transport

and Main Roads.

I have taken the liberty of forwarding a copy of your emails to Mr Lucas

for his consideration and reply direct to you.

Again, thank you for contacting the Premier's Home Page.

Yours sincerely

Rob Whiddon

Chief of Staff (TOP)

Kim Bax's reply to Peter Beattie of 12th March 2004:- (TOP)

Dear Peter,

I sent Paul Lucas (now Transport Minister and, also very importantly, member for Lytton) - 3 questions on the 22nd January 2004, and a reminder notice about them 4 weeks later on the 19th February 2004. Now, over 7 weeks later, Paul Lucas has not even acknowledged those questions.

On the 31st January 2004, I sent YOU 10 further questions about seatbelting children (hardly a minor issue) - and 6 weeks later they remain unanswered. How an earth asking YOU whether or not YOU have read Professor Joubert's chilling letter, located here:-

http://www.geocities.com/seatbelts2005/joubert_letter.htm

is Paul Lucas's responsibility is beyond me - and also (probably), beyond most other reasonable adults in this State. To jog your memory, here's "Question 10" of 31st January 2004 AGAIN:-

"Have you personally read Professor Joubert's letter to myself (of August 2000 - and reproduced on www.geocities.com/seatbelts2004 ), which predicts the potential of 50 dead kids in a school bus accident - and 50 more injured ones? Are you also personally aware of Professor Joubert's background and expertise?"

As for the other 9 questions - OK, I'll concede they're more technical and policy orientated, and they're questions that Paul Lucas could conceivably be expected to answer, HOWEVER - over 6 weeks later he has still not done so. Perhaps, Peter, you could give me some indication of when I could expect a response from your Minister? Also, when Paul Lucas finds the time to answer questions about seatbelting children, could he please bear this very important point (from my email of 31st January 2004), in mind:-

"Please note that the questions above are number 1 through to 10. In your response, could you please answer them in EXACTLY the same way e.g. numbered 1 through to 10."

And here is a direct link to my questions of 31st January 2004:-

http://www.geocities.com/seatbelts2005/brisbane_central.htm#reply31jan

I note that in the intervening 6 weeks, large amounts of Government money have been spent over a single bottle of wine. You, and your entire entourage, can fly (at a moments notice), to the other end of the State in pursuit of a storm in teacup - yet you appear incapable of putting pen to paper to tell me whether or not YOU have read Prof. Joubert's letter - and I can't get a even a peep out of Paul Lucas. What's the problem? Some might think your priorities are seriously skewed.

Reagrds - Kim Bax (TOP)

Peter Beattie's acknowledgement of my email of 12th March 2004 - received the 12th March 2004:- (TOP)

Dear Ms Bax

Thank you for your message to the Premier. Your message has been forwarded to his office.

Michele Rice

For the Office of the Premier (TOP)

ANOTHER email from Peter Beattie's office (19th March 2004) - he's STILL avoiding the question:- (TOP)

Dear Mrs Bax

Thank you for your emails of 10 March 2004 concerning seatbelts on
school buses. I have been requested to reply to you on the Premier's
behalf.

The contents of your message have been noted.

In the event that you have not already done so, I have taken the liberty
of forwarding a copy of your correspondence to the Honourable Paul Lucas
MP, Minister for Transport and Main Roads for his information and reply
direct to you.

Again, thank you for contacting the Premier's Home Page.

Yours sincerely

Rob Whiddon
Chief of Staff (TOP)

Here's my reply to the above . . . . . . . . . . . . . (21st March 2004):- (TOP)

Hi Peter,

Thankyou for your email of the 19th march 2004 - and just to refresh your memory (and clear up any confusion), here's a direct to my email of 10th March 2004 (to which your email of 19th March 2004 refers):-

http://www.geocities.com/seatbelts2005/brisbane_central.htm#kim10march

And here's a link to the acknowledgment your office sent me the same day:-

http://www.geocities.com/seatbelts2005/brisbane_central.htm#peter10march

Here's another link to a further email you sent me on the 12th March 2004:-

http://www.geocities.com/seatbelts2005/brisbane_central.htm#beattie12march

Here's my reply to your email of 12th March 2004:-

http://www.geocities.com/seatbelts2005/brisbane_central.htm#kim12march

And here's a link to an acknowledgment your office sent me the same day:-

http://www.geocities.com/seatbelts2005/brisbane_central.htm#peterack12march

OK - now that's out of the way, here AGAIN is the one key question I am pressing YOU to answer:-

"Have you personally read Professor Joubert's letter to myself (of August 2000 - and reproduced on www.geocities.com/seatbelts2004 ), which predicts the potential of 50 dead kids in a school bus accident - and 50 more injured ones? Are you also personally aware of Professor Joubert's background and expertise?"

Peter - that question cannot possibly be referred to Paul Lucas, it would be bizarre to do so. It would be like you asking me, "Kim, have you personally read this particular document," and me replying, "I'm forwarding a copy of your correspondence to my husband." Something tells me you wouldn't find that acceptable.

What's the problem? Are you scared that if (God forbid), the unthinkable happens, you couldn't possible say you hadn't read the warning from Australia's top expert? Are you trying to avoid responsibility? Surely not?

So Peter, here we go again. Will you PLEASE answer a key question that has been directed at YOU.

Best wishes - Kim

PS - I have updated my web pages with this correspondence, both here:-

http://www.geocities.com/seatbelts2005/brisbane_central.htm#beattie19march

and here:-

http://www.geocities.com/seatbelts2005/brisbane_central.htm#kim21march

I also assume you're aware of the latest news in regards to publicity/media about this campaign, but if you're not, here it is:-

http://www.geocities.com/seatbelts2005/media_diary.htm#msnchat

http://www.geocities.com/seatbelts2005/media_diary.htm#cairnssun

http://www.geocities.com/seatbelts2005/media_diary.htm#qnu (TOP)

Here's yet more avoidance from Peter Beattie . . . . . . . . . . . . . (TOP)

Dear Mrs Bax

Thank you for your further emails of 12 March concerning seatbelts on

school buses. I have been requested to reply to you on the Premier's

behalf.

The contents of your email messages have been noted.

As previously advised, the issue you have raised falls within the

responsibilities of the Honourable Paul Lucas MP, Minister for Transport

and Main Roads.

I have taken the liberty of forwarding a copy of your emails to Mr Lucas

for his consideration and reply direct to you.

Again, thank you for contacting the Premier's Home Page.

Yours sincerely

Rob Whiddon

Chief of Staff (TOP)

And here's yet another reply to Peter Beattie from Kim Bax (mum) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (23rd March 2000) (TOP)

Dear Peter,

Do you ever actually read the correspondence that's been sent sent you? When it comes to kids lives, you should be paying a great deal more attention. In my humble opinion, your responses to date demonstrate indifference.

In reply to the email sent to me by Rob Whiddon on the 22nd March 2004, I would re-direct you to my email of the 21st March 2004, and the one key question to YOU it contains. For your convenience, the email in question can be located via this link:-

http://www.geocities.com/seatbelts2005/brisbane_central.htm#kim21march

I look forward to getting answer from YOU at some point.

You should also remember that I have the email address of every single local newspaper in the State - and Premier's that continually avoid a legitimate question of concern to large swathes of the population, may very well find that legitimate question posed to them in the local print media Queensland-wide.

Regards - Kim Bax

PS - I have updated my web page today with this correspondence. (TOP)

My God !!!! I just can't believe it - this man, Peter Beattie MP, Premier of Queensland, appears to be incapable of reading and replying to ONE straightforward question - here's his latest email, Tuesday 30th March 2004:- (TOP)

Dear Mrs Bax

Thank you for your emails of 21 and 23 March 2004 concerning seatbelts

on school buses. I have been requested to reply to you on the Premier's

behalf.

The contents of your email messages have been noted.

As previously advised, the issue you have raised falls within the

responsibilities of the Honourable Paul Lucas MP, Minister for Transport

and Main Roads.

I have taken the liberty of forwarding a copy of your emails to Mr Lucas

for his consideration and reply direct to you.

Again, thank you for contacting the Premier's Home Page.

Yours sincerely

Rob Whiddon

Chief of Staff (TOP)

Well, I aint' giving up - here we go again, a question for YOU Mr. Beattie, sent Tuesday 30th March 2004:- (TOP)

Dear Peter - you're still not paying attention are you? AGAIN - I would re-direct you to my correspondence of 21st March 2004:-

Please READ it - and especially, read these paragraphs within it closely:-

" 'Have you personally read Professor Joubert's letter to myself (of August 2000 - and reproduced on www.geocities.com/seatbelts2004 ), which predicts the potential of 50 dead kids in a school bus accident - and 50 more injured ones? Are you also personally aware of Professor Joubert's background and expertise?'

To continue, if you need some help and direction with this, I suggest you read the correspondence sent to me to-day by Dean Wells MP (he appears to have no problem admitting that he's read Prof. Joubert's letter of August 2000):-

http://www.geocities.com/seatbelts2005/murrumba.htm

Same thing with Michael Choi MP:-

http://www.geocities.com/seatbelts2005/capalaba.htm

And with your opposite number, Lawrence Springborg MP:-

http://www.geocities.com/seatbelts2005/southern_downs.htm

And my own local member, Kev Lingard MP:-

http://www.geocities.com/seatbelts2005/beaudesert.htm

To be honest Peter, I'm beginning to feel quite disgusted. Eventually, if I don't get a direct answer to this VERY important question (let's face it - we're dealing here with a key prediction from Australia's leading coach safety expert) - then I wouldn't be surprised if you end up facing this question in Parliament.

Regards - Kim Bax (TOP)

My email of Tuesday 30th March 2004 to Peter Beattie MP is acknowledged the same day:- (TOP)

Dear Ms Bax

Thank you for your message to the Premier. Your message has been forwarded to his office.

Michele Rice

For the Office of the Premier (TOP)

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