as posted here
Mobility scooter drivers have been warned to be extremely careful when using their vehicles, with the consumer watchdog alarmed at 71 scooter-related deaths in the past nine years.
Consumer Affairs Minister Craig Emerson has taken the step of issuing an official warning about the scooters, with concerns their increasing popularity is putting vulnerable lives at risk.
He says not enough attention has been given to the safe use of the vehicles, which have a top legal speed of 10 kilometres per hour.
"Tragically there have been 26 deaths in Victoria alone and more than 150 people have received hospital treatment," he said.
"While mobility scooters allow people with limited ability to maintain active, independent lifestyles, these injury statistics are alarming."
He says the deaths include on-road and off-road accidents and they highlight the potential dangers of the scooters.
"Obviously some of the people who use them aren't the fittest people on Earth, that's the whole reason for their existence," he said.
"I don't want to see anything severe happen in this space, but I do think we have an obligation to warn people of the dangers of using these scooters, particularly at dusk when they're not so easily seen."
Former scooter driver John, from Maleny on Queensland's Sunshine Coast hinterland, says he found it difficult to use his scooter because there was not enough road-space.
"I had a mobility scooter for two years when I had leg problems. I had it registered and insured but I stopped using it because the width of the bicycleways and footpaths at the side of the road wasn't wide enough," he told ABC Local Radio.
"When you've got big b-double trailers going past you and when you're going at 10 kilometres an hour on the main road out of Maleny, they blew me away so I had to give the scooter away instead of risking the heavier traffic."
The warning notice has a number of recommendations for scooter drivers, including ensuring the scooter is highly visible, avoiding very steep hills, taking footpaths or quiet roads when possible and wearing a helmet.
Mr Emerson says it is also very important for people to be aware of any effects that medication may have on their driving ability and to avoid drinking too much alcohol before driving.
In a statement, the managing director of Mobility Aids Australia, Andrew Gannan, says the statistics used in the warning need to be put into context.
"Scooters users are generally part of an elderly demographic, who already have the highest mortality rate, so we need to establish in what sense the scooters are deemed responsible for the level of deaths or injury," he said.
"The medical condition of the user when they purchase the scooter may be vastly different from their condition in six months' time.
"We need to establish whether there is a suggestion that the scooters themselves are 'unsafe', whether it is the people using them or even if motorists are failing to follow safe driving practices around scooter users, similar to the current debate about cyclists and motorists sharing roads."
Mr Gannan says Mobility Aids Australia only sells scooters that meet Australian standards and are approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
The ACCC will form a working group to come up with possible recommendations on the safe use of scooters.
as posted here
Monday, 10 August 2009
Teen in court over attack on bus driver
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A 17-YEAR-OLD Langford youth has appeared in Armadale Children's Court today after being charged over the attack which left a Perth bus driver blind in one eye.
Bus driver Gerard Sin was allegedly attacked by a group of youths who were refused permission to get on the vehicle in Armadale.
The Transperth bus was travelling along Church Avenue, Armadale, and as it approached the intersection of Sixth Road a group of youths slapped on the bus to gain the driver’s attention.
Police alleged that when the bus driver opened the door, he was struck with a piece of concrete and kicked, sustaining severe injuries to his face and eye.
The teenager , who cannot be identified because he is a juvenile, was charged with causing unlawful grievous bodily harm and $2000 worth of damage to a bus.
He was not required to plead to the charges and was released on bail to seek legal advice before his next court appearance on August 24.
as posted here
WA only state to increase amount of litter
as posted here
WESTERN Australia is the country's most littered state - and the only state to have actually increased the amount of rubbish we throw away.
The National Litter Index 2009 report by Keep Australia Beautiful, released today, showed that while the volume of litter in WA was slightly down, there was in increase in the average number of items.
Cigarette butts were again the most common item dumped, with the number of butts littered increasing by 41 per cent since 2005.
Littering of plastic has increased 54.5 per cent over the last four years with paper/paperboard increasing by 60 per cent.
Keep Australia Beautiful Council WA chair Mel Hay said the figures were disappointing.
“Since the surveys started in 2005, there has been an overall trend of increasing amounts of litter and, based on number of items, WA is the most littered State in Australia,” Mr Hay said
as posted here
WESTERN Australia is the country's most littered state - and the only state to have actually increased the amount of rubbish we throw away.
The National Litter Index 2009 report by Keep Australia Beautiful, released today, showed that while the volume of litter in WA was slightly down, there was in increase in the average number of items.
Cigarette butts were again the most common item dumped, with the number of butts littered increasing by 41 per cent since 2005.
Littering of plastic has increased 54.5 per cent over the last four years with paper/paperboard increasing by 60 per cent.
Keep Australia Beautiful Council WA chair Mel Hay said the figures were disappointing.
“Since the surveys started in 2005, there has been an overall trend of increasing amounts of litter and, based on number of items, WA is the most littered State in Australia,” Mr Hay said
as posted here
School fees left unpaid in rich suburbs
as posted here
Many parents who send their children to State high schools in wealthy suburbs are refusing to pay voluntary contributions.
Figures released by the Education Department reveal that some schools in high socioeconomic areas collect less than half the total voluntary amount requested from parents.
The average collection rate of voluntary contributions at schools across WA last year was just 60 per cent. The department said the data showed that schools in lower socioeconomic areas were more likely to have lower collection rates of voluntary payments.
Lesmurdie Senior High School, which is not in a low socioeconomic area, collected just 28 per cent of contributions. Principal Keith Svendsen said many parents might have cut back on voluntary payments to ensure they could pay compulsory fees charged for some subjects, because of economic conditions.
“We understand that, but we also have to continue to fund our programs and we are reliant on any and all monies that are paid either through the grants we get from the department and the charges and contributions we get from parents,” he said.
Mt Lawley Senior High School, which draws students from high socioeconomic areas such as Mt Lawley, Coolbinia and Inglewood, collected just 50 per cent of voluntary contributions. Melville SHS had the most voluntary contributions paid with 98 per cent. Thornlie SHS had the least with 19 per cent.
Education Department spokesman John Leaf said voluntary contributions met some of the costs of providing textbooks, stationery and other materials. “Schools can also collect money from parents for non-compulsory aspects of schooling which may include optional courses, excursions and swimming lessons,” he said.
Mr Leaf said schools in poorer areas with low collection rates could apply for supplementary funding through the Secondary Assistance Scheme.
Schools can request up to $235 a year in voluntary payments for Year 8 to 10 students. Many principals are worried schools will suffer next year under State Government plans to scrap a $100-a-student subsidy paid directly to high schools.
Unless they have a health care card, parents will be asked to pay the full contribution.
BETHANY HIATT
as posted here
Many parents who send their children to State high schools in wealthy suburbs are refusing to pay voluntary contributions.
Figures released by the Education Department reveal that some schools in high socioeconomic areas collect less than half the total voluntary amount requested from parents.
The average collection rate of voluntary contributions at schools across WA last year was just 60 per cent. The department said the data showed that schools in lower socioeconomic areas were more likely to have lower collection rates of voluntary payments.
Lesmurdie Senior High School, which is not in a low socioeconomic area, collected just 28 per cent of contributions. Principal Keith Svendsen said many parents might have cut back on voluntary payments to ensure they could pay compulsory fees charged for some subjects, because of economic conditions.
“We understand that, but we also have to continue to fund our programs and we are reliant on any and all monies that are paid either through the grants we get from the department and the charges and contributions we get from parents,” he said.
Mt Lawley Senior High School, which draws students from high socioeconomic areas such as Mt Lawley, Coolbinia and Inglewood, collected just 50 per cent of voluntary contributions. Melville SHS had the most voluntary contributions paid with 98 per cent. Thornlie SHS had the least with 19 per cent.
Education Department spokesman John Leaf said voluntary contributions met some of the costs of providing textbooks, stationery and other materials. “Schools can also collect money from parents for non-compulsory aspects of schooling which may include optional courses, excursions and swimming lessons,” he said.
Mr Leaf said schools in poorer areas with low collection rates could apply for supplementary funding through the Secondary Assistance Scheme.
Schools can request up to $235 a year in voluntary payments for Year 8 to 10 students. Many principals are worried schools will suffer next year under State Government plans to scrap a $100-a-student subsidy paid directly to high schools.
Unless they have a health care card, parents will be asked to pay the full contribution.
BETHANY HIATT
as posted here
Local Government Elections
as posted here
The City of Gosnells district is represented by 12 elected members, known as Councillors. The term of office for a Councillor is four years and elections are held every second year on the third Saturday in October.
The next Election Day will be on Saturday, 17 October 2009. At each election, half of the Council positions are declared vacant and a poll is conducted to determine the incoming Councillors.
Elections
The City of Gosnells holds postal elections, which are conducted on the City’s behalf by the Western Australian Electoral Commission.
What’s New?
The City has recently completed a review of Ward Boundaries and Councillor Representation, which resulted in a decision to remove ward boundaries and establish the district of Gosnells as a single ‘ward’. This means that all Councillors are now elected by electors from the whole district.
Voting in Elections
Voting papers are mailed to every person appearing on either the Residents Roll or the Owners and Occupiers Roll approximately four weeks prior to the Election Day.
Nominate to be a Councillor
To stand for election as a Councillor, you must:
be 18 years of age or older;
be an elector of the district (if you are only an elector because you are a nominee of a company then you are not eligible to stand);
(if you are a current Council member), have a term that ends on Election Day.
as posted here
The City of Gosnells district is represented by 12 elected members, known as Councillors. The term of office for a Councillor is four years and elections are held every second year on the third Saturday in October.
The next Election Day will be on Saturday, 17 October 2009. At each election, half of the Council positions are declared vacant and a poll is conducted to determine the incoming Councillors.
Elections
The City of Gosnells holds postal elections, which are conducted on the City’s behalf by the Western Australian Electoral Commission.
What’s New?
The City has recently completed a review of Ward Boundaries and Councillor Representation, which resulted in a decision to remove ward boundaries and establish the district of Gosnells as a single ‘ward’. This means that all Councillors are now elected by electors from the whole district.
Voting in Elections
Voting papers are mailed to every person appearing on either the Residents Roll or the Owners and Occupiers Roll approximately four weeks prior to the Election Day.
Nominate to be a Councillor
To stand for election as a Councillor, you must:
be 18 years of age or older;
be an elector of the district (if you are only an elector because you are a nominee of a company then you are not eligible to stand);
(if you are a current Council member), have a term that ends on Election Day.
as posted here
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