I rise this evening to speak on the Parliamentary Friends of Road Safety launch this afternoon with Transurban. It is a privilege to co-chair this group with the member for Mount Ommaney. Together, we share the belief that road safety is an issue that rises above politics. It is not about one side of the chamber or the other; it is about saving lives and protecting families. That is why it was wonderful to see many members of this House attend the function this afternoon to speak with stakeholders about the work they are doing in their communities across Queensland and the nation.
Mr Deputy Speaker Krause, as you are aware, this issue is deeply personal to me. My family’s lives were forever changed when my son Matt, his partner Kate, and my unborn grandson Miles were tragically killed by an out-of-control teen offender. Our loss will always stay with us, as will the loss for every family who has had a loved one taken from them.
Driving is something many of us take for granted, but it is also one of the greatest responsibilities we carry each day. Each time we get behind the wheel, we owe it not just to ourselves and our loved ones to get home safely but also to every other road user—drivers, cyclists and pedestrians alike. Last year, 302 people were killed on our roads and thousands more were seriously injured. That is why the theme of this year’s Road Safety Week— ‘We’re one team, Queensland’—is so important: because no matter who we are, where we come from or what role we play in society, we all share the same roads. When we remember that, we drive with more patience, we take that extra moment to slow down, we
reconsider sending that text message while on the road and we make choices that protect life rather than endanger it.
This parliamentary friends group is about fostering that culture of responsibility and care. It is about supporting the advocates, the experts and the organisations which are leading the way in keeping our roads safe. It is about making sure that here in parliament we listen, learn and work together to reduce harm and save lives.
That is why I am sure it is welcome news that the government has announced almost $7 million to install and maintain flashing school zone signs across 100 high-risk school zones to keep Queensland kids safe, along with an investment to improve roads across our state’s rural and regional communities. It is up to everyone who gets behind a wheel to stop, think and understand that the decisions they are about to make may change their lives forever.
