Member for Grey Rowan Ramsey has slammed the State Government’s decision to cut speed limits on eight roads across rural South Australia.
“This action is so typical of the Weatherill Government,” he said.
“This seems to be a unilateral decision taken with little or no consultation with the people who live in regional SA.
“It’s pretty obvious the Government has only two members who live in country SA- Minister Geoff Brock has a car and driver at his disposal and the Member for Giles either flies to Adelaide or drives on the national highway which is unaffected by this decision.
“I am unconvinced by the logic behind this decision. I was opposed to their action, also taken without consultation to place a 100kmh speed limit on all roads within 100kms of Adelaide six years ago.
“I have looked at the casualty figures on those affected roads since and have yet to identify any benefits.
“However there is certainly a detrimental effect, it takes longer to get everywhere and there have been numerous people complain to me about lower speeds causing concentration to lapse.”
Mr Ramsey said the State Minister behind this decision, Peter Malinauskas is a Member of the Legislative Council who lives in Adelaide.
“His job also comes with a chauffeur driven car, it’s pretty obvious he doesn’t spend much time behind the wheel on long country drives,” he said.
“If he did he may well have a different opinion, or at least have the good country commonsense to ask those affected by his decision for their opinion.
“This decision is opposed by the LGA and I concur one hundred percent with their opinion; if the road is not up to standard, fix it, don’t lower the speed limits.”
Mr Ramsey urges people to let Mr Malinauskas know what they think about this decision.”
Mr Ramsey said the roads affected in the Grey electorate were Andamooka to Olympic Dam, Cleve to Kimba and Crystal Brook to Gulnare.
Media contact: Leonie Lloyd-Smith 08 8633 1744
September 11 2017