Mr SIDEBOTTOM (10:29 PM) —On the 26th of this month, my son Julian will celebrate his 16th birthday, which is great news. Unfortunately, not so great news is that he will be eligible for his learner driver plates. Of course, self-interest is the best interest when you try to take notice of issues and you want to do something about them. So, in that interest, I have looked at the issue of novice drivers, particularly in my home state of Tasmania, and the statistics related to novice drivers. It is an area of concern for two different but related reasons, and I would like to share these reasons with the House.

First of all, I do not wish to say that novice drivers cause all the road crashes, but the statistics do indicate improved novice driver safety would result in a substantial road safety benefit. The second is that currently in this country we do not have specific codes such as exist in New Zealand and the UK related to motor vehicle advertising, and it is an area of concern. All that exists are some very general statements in section 2 of the equally general advertising standards guidelines, so general in fact that one could—excuse the pun—drive a semi through them. Many motoring bodies throughout Australia and concerned community groups have tried to rectify the situation, and slowly the car industry is beginning to move on the issue. A self-regulatory code has been produced, initially without much consultation but, hopefully, that is being addressed now—although I notice that the Australian Automobile Association has accused the proponents of the code of being `tardy and dismissive' in establishing the code.

I will, along with many other interested parents and concerned citizens and organisations, watch these developments closely to ensure that we do not have advertising which contradicts the basic road safety message that `speed kills' both on—and I would add—off public roads and even in family driveways. Despite Australia having the highest fatality and injury statistics for driveway accidents involving children in the world—an appalling statistic—we have a TV advertisement of a car weaving through toys in a driveway with a youngster looking on with glee and enjoyment. I am sure, Mr Speaker, you will attest that I am no stick in the mud and I can laugh with the best, but what is the message in this advertisement? I noticed in a recent discussion of this matter in the Australian newspaper on 23 May 2002 that a spokesperson for the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries—questioned, I must add, by non-industry people—said:

I certainly hope there is a renegotiation of this pretty insipid proposal. Self-regulation is not an excuse to pussyfoot around. It is a means to deal effectively with an issue without the need for external regulation—and I emphasise the word `need'. I can assure everyone interested in this matter that insipid or dismissive self-regulatory practices will result in sustained political and community pressure to dramatically change the situation. I know there are many, both on my side of the House and on the other side of the House, that will not allow this insipid self-regulation to take place, if that is what they intend. I note the work of Senator Boswell in trying to advance this matter and I hope Minister Anderson provides some determined leadership to support his efforts.

I was going to introduce some more sobering statistics to share with you, Mr Speaker, the House and my son Julian, but I will do that when I get home and particularly on his birthday on the 26th of this month. Happy birthday, Julian.