NEW OFFICE TO ACCELERATE FEDERAL ROAD SAFETY LEADERSHIP

THE Federal Liberal and Nationals Government’s new Office of Road Safety is now operational and will get to work on improving leadership and co-ordination across governments to reduce deaths and serious injuries on the nation’s roads.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said the Office would initially focus on establishing the functions needed to perform its lead agency role while delivering priority road safety programs.

“The key objective of the Office of Road Safety is to provide national leadership in eliminating road trauma in Australia,” Mr McCormack said.

“In August, the Transport and Infrastructure Council will consider a range of actions in response to the Inquiry into the National Road Safety Strategy 2011–20, the outcomes of the Governance Review and the initiatives stemming from the Inquiry and the Review. This will be an important input to the longer term role of the Office.”

Assistant Minister for Road Safety and Freight Transport Scott Buchholz said the Office would operate as the primary policy adviser to the federal ministers for road safety on delivering safer roads, vehicles, speeds and drivers.

“The Office will draw together interdisciplinary expertise and experience to learn, share and channel effort towards proven approaches to reducing national road trauma,” Mr Buchholz said.

“In doing this, it will work collaboratively with counterpart agencies across the states and territories, as well as expert agencies.”

The Office will actively seek partnerships to develop and prioritise proposals that achieve these reductions.

More information on the Federal Liberal and Nationals Government’s road safety agenda is available at https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roads/safety/index.aspx.