Dear Ms Bax,

 

I refer to your email of the 22nd January 2004.

 

I have been informed by the Minister for Transport and Main Roads, the Hon Steve Bredhauer that he has responded to you in relation to the above issue.

 

Yours sincerely,

Hon Tom Barton MP

Member for Waterford

Minister for State Development

Shop 14, 22 Loganlea Road

WATERFORD WEST  QLD  4133

ph:  3200 3477

fax: 3200 3499

email: [email protected]

Read Kim Bax's response to the above, at the top of the far right hand side of this page.

A further email received from Tom Barton on the 26th February 2004:-

Dear Ms Bax

 

The Minister has asked me to thank you for your email of 19 February 2004, further to earlier correspondence regarding school bus safety and school bus seatbelts.

 

As this matter falls within the portfolio responsibilities of the Hon Paul Lucas MP, Minister for Transport and Main Roads, a copy of your letter has been forwarded to Mr Lucas's office for his consideration.

 

Once again, thank you for bring this matter to the attention of the Minister.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

MARK SYMONS

A/Senior Policy Advisor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Response to Tom Barton MP (Waterford), from Kim Bax (Mum) - sent on the 29th January 2004:-

(Note, Tom Barton replied to this email below, on the 26th February 2004 - after a reminder notice I sent to him on the 19th February 2004.  Check out the far left hand of this page - it's hi-lited in blue.  Click HERE to access the further reply I sent to him on the 26th February 2004)

Dear Mr. Barton,

 

Thankyou for your response.

 

There are three very important points I need to get across to you. 

 

Firstly, Mr. Bredhauer has, most definitely, NOT answered the questions I put to you on 22nd January 2004 - although those questions were put him (as they they were put to you), on that date. 

 

Secondly, every member of the State parliament has a responsibility to take a serious and informed position on important issues affecting members of their electorate.  I would have thought "sloughing off" (so to speak), that responsibility to Steve Bredhauer demonstrates a serious lack of concern (and interest in), this issue.  I will elaborate.

 

Professor Peter Joubert HEADED the committees following the Grafton/Kempsey horror bus crashes (52 dead - many more horribly injured).  He formulated ALL the Australian Design Rules (interstate coaches), and was awarded the Order of Australia for his services to engineering.  This foremost authority predicts the potential of 50 dead kids and 50 mutilated ones in a school bus crash.  Are you seriously telling me that you REFUSE to comment on whether or not you have read this key correspondence?

 

I have also asked whether or not YOU support the recommendations of the "Queensland School Transport Safety Task Force" (including their recommendation to fit seatbelts on school buses over a 15 year period) - and I have asked what YOU intend to do to promote its implementation.  My inquiry was directed at YOU - and you should have enough integrity and intelligence to answer on your own behalf (I assume). 

 

Perhaps you may wish take some advice from Warren Pitt - the ALP State member for Mulgrave.  This gentleman takes the issue of safety on his local school buses so seriously that he rang me at home last night (around 8pm - after an exhausting day in his electorate).  He spent an hour on the phone.  He's extremely concerned - but then, I suppose he would be.  He's an ex-teacher (as you probably know) - and he experienced first-hand what it's like for a local community to pull 8 dead kids out of school bus, and 12 mutilated ones.  Gordonvale, Mulgrave electorate - 1987 (in case you've forgotten).  Mr. Warren Pitt is obviously not satisfied with delegating his responsibilities to Steve Bredhauer.

 

Secondly, I am co-ordinating a Queensland wide campaign to improve school bus safety.  As part of this lobbying, I am seeking feedback from every member of the State Parliament on this issue. 

 

I assume Waterford is in the State of Queensland - and the children in Waterford use school transport?  

 

I look forward to some further correspondence from you - correspondence that (hopefully), does not seek to avoid reasonable questions - questions which are of key concern to many members of your electorate (judging from the phone calls I've received).

 

Regards - Kim Bax (mum)