A new federal parliamentary committee inquiry into how to reduce trauma and deaths on Australian roads will focus on heavy vehicles and the gig economy.
The Joint Select Committee on Road Safety will “investigate and identify opportunities to improve road safety programs and policy; embed road trauma prevention across agencies; and reduce road trauma in the workplace”.
Committee chairman Pat Conaghan said the inquiry will look at practical and immediate steps that can be taken to reduce trauma and deaths on our roads.
“We need to focus on action and cooperation in the prevention of further trauma and deaths on our road networks,” he said.
“We will also focus attention on ensuring the Government’s 2021-22 Budget commitment of $3 billion over three years to the Road Safety Program continues to be effective.”
Mr Conaghan said it is important that options to meet Australia’s road safety targets are fully explored.
This included reducing trauma in the heavy vehicle transport industry and in the gig economy.
“We must all work together towards zero deaths and serious injuries on Australian roads by 2050,” Mr Conaghan said.
Submissions should be provided to the committee by Tuesday, 24 August 2021. They can be lodged online via the committee’s website by emailing road.safety.reps@aph.gov.au
The committee is due to present a final report on or before 1 July 2022. Submission timeframes have yet to be determined.