Sue Lines (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

At the request of the Chair of the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee, I move:

That the following matter be referred to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee for inquiry and report by 9 September 2015.

(a) the social and economic cost of road-related injury and death;

(b) the importance of design standards on imported vehicles, as Australian vehicle manufacturing winds down;

(c) the impact of new technologies and advancements in understanding of vehicle design and road safety;

(d) the different considerations affecting road safety in urban, regional and rural areas; and

(e) other associated matters.

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Deputy President, I seek leave to make a short statement.

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government is committed to cut the road toll and road trauma and is currently taking forward work in each of the areas that Senator Sterle has proposed be referred to the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee. Consistent with the Australian government's commitment to improve road safety, while reducing red tape, the government is currently undertaking a review of the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989. This review will strike the balance between appropriate safety standards, in line with international best practice and consumer access to vehicles at the lowest possible cost.

The government is also undertaking a mid-term update of the National Road Safety Strategy, which will be completed later this year. This work will establish a refreshed set of national priority actions to focus the efforts of all jurisdictions over the next three years. Transport ministers from all states and territories will consider these priority actions at the November meeting of the Transport and Infrastructure Council. In the coming months the government will also complete a review of the full impacts of road trauma. The review will evaluate the benefits and costs associated with the different road safety approaches adopted by various jurisdictions. The review will include an examination of the whole road safety system. For these reasons, the government will not be supporting the referral of these matters to the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee for inquiry because to refer these matters to the committee would only duplicate effort.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that business of the Senate notice of motion No. 1, moved by Senator Lines on behalf of Senator Sterle, be agreed to.

Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move that business of the Senate notice of motion No. 2 standing in the name of Senator Dastyari be amended as follows:

Omit 'Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport' and substitute 'Economics'

Question agreed to.

Sam Dastyari (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move the motion as amended.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question now is that the motion as amended by Senator Whish-Wilson be agreed to.

Question agreed to.