Dear Kim
This is Kerry Shine, MP for Toowoomba North. Click on the picture to contact him. Kerry is on the "Ministerial Legislative Committee" for Transport.
He is also a solicitor and a member of the Queensland Law Society (QLS). He should, therefore, be aware of the extensive lobbying of the QLS (as well as the Australian Plaintiff Lawyers Association), in support of seatbelts on school buses.
You can access the lobbying of the QLS by clicking HERE
You access the submission of the Australian Plaintiff Lawyers Association (in support of safe school travel/seatbelts on school bus), by clicking HERE
(Note, over 4 weeks later - on the 24th February 2004 - Kerry had still not replied to this correspondence, and a reminder was sent. This reminder can be accessed by clicking HERE)
Dear Kerry,
Thankyou for your prompt response to my email of 22nd January 2004.
However, my first email asked one question which should (at least), be very simple/quick to answer, e.g:-
"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)?"
There should be no need to await a reply from Mr. Beattie or Mr. Bredhauer before you answer that one very simple point. In a nutshell, have you read Joubert's letter, or haven't you? This is a very important question, as Joubert predicts the potential of a 50% death rate/90% injury rate in a school bus crash.
Most reasonable parents would want/expect you to read this information (as it has been made available) - and they may want some prompt reassurance on this point.
I look forward to another quick reply on this simple question (e.g., BEFORE you hear back from Beattie/Bredhauer).
Best wishes - Kim Bax.
A further email sent to Mr. Kerry Shine (by mum Kim Bax), on Saturday 24th January 2004:-
Dear Kerry,
I note you are a solicitor and a member of the Queensland Law Society. I have two questions for you. Firstly, are you aware of the extensive lobbying of the Queensland Law Society in regard to the issue of seatbelts on school buses? Secondly, have you read the submission of the Australian Plaintiff Lawyers Association (2001), in regard to school bus safety (authored by solicitor Rob Davis)?
I look forward to hearing from you.
All the best - Kim Bax