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This is what YOUR State Member has to say . . . . . . .

This email - and the 3 key questions it contains about seatbelting children on schoolbuses - was sent to every member of the Queensland Parliament on the 22nd January 2004 (except those members who were not elected the Parliament until 7th February 2004):-         (TOP)

"Goodmorning,

In 2001, Peter Beattie convened the "Queensland School Transport Safety Task Force."  The final report of the "Task Force" made several recommendations to increase the safety of school children in Queensland (in regard to their transportation to and from school) - including the introduction (over time), of seatbelts on school buses.  The report acknowledged that while school bus accidents are (thankfully), not (statistically speaking), frequent events, the potentially horrific consequences of one serious school bus crash are so grave that it justifies the fitment of seatbelts on all school buses over time.  In fact, Emeritus Professor Peter Joubert OAM predicts that (in current circumstances), a single school bus crash could kill around 50 children - and leave around 90% of the survivors with massive injuries.  I have several questions for you:-

• Have you read the full text of Professor Joubert's letter (available at www.oocities.org/seatbelts2004 )  ?  Professor Joubert is the author of all the current Australian Design Rules (in relation to interstate coaches), he's been awarded the Order of Australia in relation to his services to engineering and he headed the committees in the wake of the Kempsey/Grafton bus crash horror (1989 - 52 dead, many more horribly injured).

• Do you unequivocally support the FULL implementation of the recommendations of the Queensland "Task Force" within the life of the next Parliament (2004/2007)?

• In what practical ways do you (or have already), intend to support/advocate for the full implementation of "Task Force" recommendations? (e.g., for instance, speaking in parliament, writing letters, serving on committees etc.)

I very much look forward to your response.  It will be posted to www.oocities.org/seatbelts2004 as soon as it is received.

Best wishes - Kim Bax"

(TOP)

Here's the list of new Queensland Parliamentary members that weren't sent my original email until the 8th or 12th of February 2004:-       (TOP)

Ms. Rosemary Menkens, NP - Burdekin     Mr. Rob Messenger, NP - Burnett     Mr. Shane Knuth, NP - Charters Towers         

Mr. Jason O'Brien ALP - Cook        Ms. Jann Stuckey, Lib - Currumbin         Mr. Paul Hoolihan ALP - Keppel       Mr. Ian Rickuss NP - Lockyer

Mr. John-Paul Langbroek Lib - Surfers Paradise

(TOP)

Here's the reminder notice that was sent to some new members over 4 weeks later, on the 11th March 2004:-    (TOP)

Here's the list of Parliamentary members that have responded, to my key questions of 22nd January 2004 about seatbelting children in school buses (as of Wednesday 7th April 2004).  The links below will take you to their replies:-  (TOP)

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Here's the list of Parliamentary members that have not responded at all (over 8 weeks later, as of Wednesday 7th April 2004):-        (TOP)

(TOP)

Here's the reminder that was sent to all Queensland Parliamentary members on the 19th February 2004, 4 weeks after my original email of 22nd January 2004:-            (TOP)

Thursday 19th February 2004

Goodmorning to all members of the Queensland Parliament,

From:- Kim Bax, mum, Beaudesert Shire.  Re:- An official reminder notice in regard to my questions of 22^nd January 2004, about school bus safety/school bus seatbelts.

On the 22^nd January 2004, I wrote to all members of this Parliament, asking each member three key questions (they were sent to the 8 new members on the 8^th and 12^th of February 2004).  These questions related to the safety of every school child, in every electorate. 

As I write this official reminder notice exactly four weeks later, only 20 out of a total of 89 elected representatives have even acknowledged that correspondence – and out of that 20, only two have addressed (and paid close attention to), the three questions that were actually asked.  I would suggest the people of Queensland deserve a great deal more from those they entrust with their votes, especially when it comes to the safety of their children.  I do, however, acknowledge that the 8 new members may still need time to respond.

Since the 22^nd January 2004, there have been two coach accidents – one involving a schoolbus, and one involving a route used by schoolbuses.  Firstly, here’s a quote from a news report about the most recent incident (17^th Feb. 2004):-

“Dozens of schoolchildren were saved from serious injury yesterday in north Queensland when the wheels of their school bus fell off while driving in a 60km/h zone.”

Secondly, here’s a quote from a news report about an incident on the 6^th February 2004:-

“Twelve people were in hospital, four with spinal injuries, after a bus crash near Proserpine in central Queensland.  They were all travelling on a Premier Motor Service coach which crashed down an embankment on the Bruce Highway about 5.30am (AEST). The accident happened at Gibsons Creek, between Bloomsbury and Proserpine, about 1,000km north of Brisbane. The bus driver, who was trapped after the accident, sustained head and spinal injuries as well as fractures to his arm and leg. Three people were also taken to hospital in a serious condition with spinal injuries, a Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) spokesman said.  Others injured in the accident had sustained fractures, lacerations and bruising, he said. Premier Motor Service marketing manager Gordon Lowe said the injuries could have been much worse if the bus, travelling from Brisbane to Cairns, had not been fitted with seat belts. "We've always been safety conscious," he said. "All our coaches are equipped with seat belts."

In relation to this Proserpine crash, here’s a quote from an email I sent Jan Jarrett the same day (member for Whitsunday).  I also quoted it in an interview with ABC Radio Tropical North Queensland (17^th February 2004):-

"You should thank your luck stars that the bus involved in this accident WASN'T a school bus - though I imagine school buses use that route?  Believe me, I've been researching this issue for the past 4 years - and I've been speaking to experts from around the globe.  It that had been a school bus e.g. NO seatbelts, NO roll-over protection, inadequate/poor seat anchorages, NO high-backed seats, NO internal padding, bare internal metal fitments, loose/heavy school bags and kids packed into the aisles, your local community would have been looking at a bloodbath."

My original correspondence/questions (to all members), of 22^nd January 2004 can be accessed at this website:-

www.oocities.org/seatbelts2004

Almost at the top of the front page, there’s a picture of Queensland children crammed into a school bus.  Click on that image (as the adjoining text says), and you will taken to it.  Also, I have reproduced here the three key questions it contained:-

• Have you read the full text of Professor Joubert's letter (available at www.oocities.org/seatbelts2004 )  ?  Professor Joubert is the author of all the current Australian Design Rules (in relation to interstate coaches), he's been awarded the Order of Australia in relation to his services to engineering and he headed the committees in the wake of the Kempsey/Grafton bus crash horror (1989 - 52 dead, many more horribly injured).

• Do you unequivocally support the FULL implementation of the recommendations of the Queensland "Task Force" within the life of the next Parliament (2004/2007)?

• In what practical ways do you (or have already), intend to support/advocate for the full implementation of "Task Force" recommendations? (e.g., for instance, speaking in parliament, writing letters, serving on committees etc.)

Of the 20 members that have responded to me to date, only two – Kev Lingard of Beaudesert and Warren Pitt of Mulgrave – have fully addressed these questions.  The remaining 18 members (that responded), have all received further correspondence from me, asking for clarification.  If I do not hear from those 18 members again, within an appropriate time frame, I will send them an official reminder (at around 4 weeks from the time they received my follow-up correspondence). 

As for the remaining 69 members that have not responded at all – in my opinion, you need to get your act together on this issue, and it’s an opinion (I’d wager), that’s shared by 95% of Queenslanders.  I look forward to receiving your answers on these vital questions.

Regards – Kim Bax

PS – my website has been updated with this official reminder notice.

PPS – on the front page of my website, far right hand column, you’ll see a number of links.  Two of them may be of particular interest to you, “Media & Publicity Diary – Past” and “Media & Publicity - Upcoming          (TOP)

Here's the reminder notice that was sent to all members of the Queensland Parliament on the 21st March 2004, over 8 weeks after my original email of 22nd January - and over 4 weeks after my last reminder:-         (TOP)

From Kim Bax - mum & school bus seatbelt campaigner, Beaudesert Shire.

Goodmorning,

Re: A reminder about unanswered correspondence of 22nd January 2004 and 19th February 2004, relevant to all Parliamentary members listed at this link:-

http://www.oocities.org/seatbelts2005/correspondence.htm#nilreply

On the 22nd January 2004, I sent all members (except, of course, the new members - elected 7th Feb 2004), an email containing 3 key questions about seatbelting children in school buses.  For your convenience, you can access this email via this link:-

http://www.oocities.org/seatbelts2005/correspondence.htm#email22january2004

I also sent a reminder to all members 4 weeks later - and (again), for your convenience, this reminder can be accessed via this link:-

http://www.oocities.org/seatbelts2005/correspondence.htm#reminder19feb

As of today (21st March 2004), none of the members listed at this link:-

http://www.oocities.org/seatbelts2005/correspondence.htm#nilreply

have responded at all to this correspondence

As all of you realise (or should realise), you are each personally responsible for the questions I sent on the 22nd January 2004.  Each of you has a personal responsibility to act on behalf of your electorate in regard to this problem.  A response from your party - or your party leader - does not absolve you.

I would hope to hear from the members listed within a reasonable time frame.

I will continue to send reminder notices to members who have not/do not respond to my questions at 4 weekly intervals.  Eventually, if these key questions remain outstanding, I may be forced to ask them/print them via your local press.

Regards - Kim Bax  

PS - just to impress on you the importance and urgency of this problem, here's a link to a description of a hypothetical school bus crash scene.  I hope it makes an impression on you, it should - as it is an extract from an article by those who are paid to know about these things, Queensland Doctors:-

http://www.oocities.org/seatbelts2005/chilling_quotes.htm#ama                      

(TOP)

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