Email from Tim Mulherin MP (ALP) - Member for Mackay, to Kim Bax (mum) - on Wednesday 28th January 2004:-

Dear Ms Bax,

Thank you for your emails in relation to seat belts on school buses.

Our Government identified safe student transport as one of the most important issues facing parents and communities and set up a trial of seatbelts on school buses in 2003 in response to the recommendations of the independent School Transport Safety Task Force and the Interdepartmental Working Group.

In this six month trial, 12 school buses throughout Queensland were fitted with seat belts with the aim of finding solutions for a range of legal, behavioural and operational issues regarding seat belts, before further consideration of their inclusion in the Queensland school bus fleet.

The trial has been evaluated by an independent transport research organisation, ARRB Transport Research, and the School Transport Safety Interdepartmental Working Group has now been reconvened to examine the results and further investigate issues such as legal responsibility and compliance.

The Taskforce is due to provide their reccomendations by April 2004, and I look forward to their announcement.  

I trust this information is of assistance to you.

Yours sincerely,

TIM MULHERIN MP
Member for Mackay

Kim Bax (mum) replied to this email (above), on the 28th January 2004.  This reply is at the top of this page, on the far right hand side.  Tim then sent a further email to Kim Bax on the 5th February 2004.  Here it is:-

Kim Bax (mum), then replied to this email (above), on the 5th February 2004.  This reply is on the far right hand side of this page - hi-lited in blue.  

BACK

This is Tim Mulherin MP (ALP) - Member for Mackay.  Click on the picture to email him.

He is a member of "Estimates Committee F" which deals with (amongst other things), expenditure on transport.

BACK

Dear Mr. Mulherin,

Thankyou for your correspondence of 28th January 2004. 

I note your last sentence, "I trust this information is of assistance to you."  Actually, despite the wealth of information you appear to convey, it isn't.  I will explain why.

Unfortunately, extensive as your reply is,  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 28th 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 Mackay deserve a GREAT deal better from you when it comes to the safety of their children.

May 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.

I look forward to hearing from you shortly.

Regards - Kim Bax (mum)

Tim Mulherin replied to the above email from Kim Bax (mum), on Thursday 5th February 2004.  This reply can be read on the far left hand side of this page, hi-lited in green. 

Kim Bax then wrote to Tim Mulherin again, on Thursday 5th February 2004:-

Dear Tim,

Thankyou for your email of 5th February 2004, and your curtesy in replying to me.  As you acknowledge, I am passionate about putting seatbelts in school buses.  However, I am extremely disturbed by this Government's FAILURE to commit to the safety of our children - admitted in your correspondence.  I quote from your most recent email:-

"It would be premature to make specific comments or give any guarantees regarding the recommendations of the Taskforce as they will not be available for scrutiny until April 2004."

This contrasts (very starkly), with the guarantee I've had from my own local State member (Kev Lingard of the National Party).  Here's a key quote from the email he sent me to-day:-

• I agree with your terminology of “banning standing students in 90km/hr and 100km/hr speed zones”.
• I have read Professor Joubert’s letter.
• I do support the full implementation of the recommendations of the Queensland “Task Force” during the life of the next Parliament.
• I am prepared to speak in Parliament regarding this report.

"The Task Force" - Tim - has ALREADY reported (in September 2001).  It's recommendation to fit seatbelts in school buses is a  matter of public record, and has been for some time.  Perhaps though, your Government has cobbled together a SECOND "Task Force" because it didn't like what the first one said?  Let's face it, seatbelts on school buses just might cost a few football stadiums - or foot-bridges over the river for Brisbane residents?

And again Tim, you have failed to answer one of my key questions - e.g. have you personally, or have you not, read Professor Joubert's letter to me of August 2001, the one that contains the following quote:-

"The bus you describe loaded with 103 children and 40 standees together with school bags, no seatbelts, low backed seats with no energy absorption in an impact with another vehicle of equal or greater mass would, in my opinion, give rise to an accident greater than the Grafton disaster.  In a roll over that might occur there is great potential for an equally disastrous event.  I would forecast a 40% to 50% death rate and over 90% injury rate for the remaining children."

The full text of this letter can be read at:

www.geocities.com/seatbelts2004

Professor Joubert headed the investigations after the Grafton/Kempsey bus horror (52 dead), authored the current safety standards on inter-state coaches and was awarded the "Order of Australia" for his services to engineering.  In other words, he is Australia's LEADING expert.  I think your electorate has a right to know whether or not you've read his chilling prediction.

I look forward to hearing from you again shortly.

Regards - Kim