Dear Kim

 

Thank you for the email you sent me regarding your correspondence about school bus safety and seatbelts.

 

I apologise for not contacting you directly previously, as my office was aware you were being sent information from the Opposition office including the media release regarding the announcement by the Coalition of our doubling of funding available for upgrading the school bus fleet as well as an additional $5 million towards putting seatbelts on school buses.

 

During the 2001 election the Coalition had a major policy of school bus safety but unfortunately we lost that election by a substantial margin.

 

We have again promised a very large increase in school bus safety and seat belt provision but again we have lost this election by a substantial margin.

 

I know the Nationals and Liberals will continue to fight for this issue and our Shadow Minster responsible along with the Opposition Leader will play a major role in this task.

 

I congratulate you for your determination and strength in continuing this important fight to provide children with safe passage to and form

school.

 

It is certainly something that should have a priority way above other projects heavily funded during two terms by this government.

 

I send you an assurance that our side of politics is determined to bring about these safety measures and had we been elected to government we could have had these important safety issues fixed.

 

Yours sincerely

 

MIKE HORAN MP

Member for Toowoomba South

Shadow Minister for State Development,

Small Business and Racing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"The Beattie government is also trying to con parents into believing that it is implementing the Task Force's recommendations, but the real test is the allocation of the money. The government has failed the test. The scheme to replace 30 school buses in non-urban areas does not even require them to be fitted with seatbelts. Based on current funding allocations it will take 200 years to upgrade the school bus fleet. I am guessing that by then we will not even have buses."

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Response to Mike Horan MP, from Kim Bax (Mum) - sent on the 2nd March 2004:-

Hi Mike,

Yes, I did receive information from your Party on this issue - I believe it was around the 31st January 2004.  The confusion is understandable - however, I'm putting every member of the Parliament personally "under the microscope" (so to speak), on this problem. 

There are still some members of the Co-alition that have not replied to my questions of 22nd January 2004 (they were sent to new members on the 8th February 2004).  Perhaps you could remind them about it?  Like yourself, they may think the Co-alition media statement answered them.  I'm not being "picky" here - it's just that it's part of my overall strategy to make every member of the Parliament directly accountable for their own responses.

Here's the direct link to those questions:-

http://www.geocities.com/seatbelts2004/correspondence.htm#email

I'm extremely glad to hear that the Co-alition will continue to fight for this issue - and I note your comments in the Queensland Parliament of 20th June 2002, extracts of which I have published on the front page of my site:-

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

I appreciate your comments on my determination and strength - however, like yourself, I have three children - and as I'm sure you're aware, when it comes to kids - giving up is not an option.

I also agree with you that funding to prevent (potentially), 50 kids dying in a school bus accident should come before football stadiums and footbridges.  Here's a link to Professor Joubert's letter of 3rd August 2000 that underlines this point:-

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

And here's a link to key conclusions from a Federal Office of Road Report (1994), about some of Australia's most horrific coach accidents:-

http://www.geocities.com/seatbelts2004/chilling_quotes.htm#admissions

I am extremely heartened to hear that the Co-alition will continue to fight on this issue - and I would be grateful if you could update me as necessary on all relevant interactions within the Parliament.  I can then add further quotes etc. to this site.

You may also be interested in my correspondence with Mr. Peter Beattie to date.  It can be accessed here:-

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

I seem to be having a little trouble getting direct answers to direct questions - and you may wish to follow this up for me at some point (I'll also keep the above link efficiently updated)..

Best wishes - Kim