Ms BURNET – My question is in relation to the prioritisation of learner driver programs in Tasmania. While millions of dollars have been granted over the forward Estimates to develop new driver safety programs, why has funding for established community programs like the Learner Driver Mentor Program (LDMP), which already delivers significant outcomes, remained uncertain beyond December 2024?
Mr ABETZ – There is somebody who rejoices in a particular surname as well. That is the program that’s run by Mr Garry O’Byrne, and I understand that he is a retiring.
Mr O’BYRNE – Cousin.
Mr ABETZ – There we go. That’s why I thought you’d rejoice. The department is undertaking a review of that program. We are also engaged, as a result of our 2030 Strong Plan promise, with the RACT with quite a program. Do you want to comment on that, Mr Crane?
Mr CRANE – I am happy to talk to that. I am Martin Crane, general manager –
CHAIR – I am sorry. Minister, could you please introduce by name and position?
Mr ABETZ – He can do that better himself. All these titles are I know ‘secretary’ and that’s about it.
Mr CRANE – My name’s Martin Crane, I’m the General Manager Road User Services in the Transport group at the Department of State Growth.
In terms of the funding for the LDMP, that is part of our Road Safety Action Plan and we provided funding. We got a little bit delayed due to the election so we funded it through the support from the minister to December. We will be providing further advice shortly to the minister for the continuation of that program. It’s an important program. The LDMP has delivered 17,500 hours last year. Roughly around 225 people each month access those services. It’s in high demand.
As the minister pointed out, we are looking at the program to make sure it’s as effective as possible. We understand that there are challenges with people accessing driver licencing. That program is a key part of it. That’ll be part of the discussions we have with the RACT, how best to use that through the development of the new initiatives the government has funded for partnership with the Road Safety Council and RACT to look at really innovative ways and provide support to young people to get into driver licencing as, sadly, young people under 25 are still overrepresented in the crash stats.
Ms BURNET – My second question is about extension of that program, not only to rural people so that it’s accessible and, therefore, equitable, but also for mature‑age learners and learners from multicultural backgrounds. What are you doing in that space?
Mr CRANE – We do fund the multicultural community.
Ms BURNET – The Migrant Resource Centre (MRC)?
Mr CRANE – MRC, to provide driver learning programs as part of the LDMP. It is fair to say that in rural areas we do have challenges with getting volunteers. It is a volunteer‑based program. We fund community‑based groups such as Neighbourhood Houses and, as you said, the Migrant Resource Centre to coordinate the delivery of that. We provide funding for vehicles and a coordinator, but it is reliant on volunteers to provide those hours to do that. Post‑COVID, attracting and retaining volunteers in that particular area is becoming a challenge for us. We’re looking at ways in which we may be able to better support those volunteers. They do a fantastic job, as I said 17,500 hours were provided through the program in the last financial year to a number of Tasmanians getting into the driver licencing system.
Ms BURNET – And the mature aged?
Mr CRANE – One of the things the minister mentioned, from the review point of view, that program is not age‑limited, it’s not just for young people. You can be an older person coming through the driver licencing system and access those programs. What we do know is that people over 25 have a very different risk profile in terms of their driving behaviours. Sadly, young males are particularly overrepresented in that age and by 25 they seem to have become more safe on the road. We will look at ways in which we can improve access to that program, including those people you’ve mentioned.
