Ministerial Statement: $35m funding boost to provide newer, safer school buses

[ozbob]

Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
15/02/2009

$35m funding boost to provide newer, safer school buses in regional areas

A $35 million funding injection will speed up the State Government's program to replace older school buses in regional centres with newer, safer models.

Transport Minister John Mickel said the extra funding brought to $48 million the amount available for purchasing replacement school buses over the next four years.

"The replacement buses all will have rollover protection built into them, so the frame will remain intact in the event of a bus overturning," Mr Mickel said.

"Vehicles that will operate on defined steep and hazardous routes will also be fitted with seat belts.

"Buses on other routes are not required to have seat belts, but the government offers a subsidy for bus operators who choose to have them fitted," he said.

"Queensland's school bus fleet is the safest way for students to travel - even safer than being driven in a car - and the State Government is determined to keep it that way.

"Our investment in the School Bus Upgrade Scheme (School BUS) is an investment in the long-term safety of Queensland school children.

"This $48 million will take about 500 older buses off school routes and replace them with newer, safer buses with rollover protection," Mr Mickel said.

"Importantly, it also will help secure jobs within the State's bus manufacturing industry. There are a significant number of bus manufacturers located in Queensland, and I certainly would be urging school bus operators who receive funding for new buses to buy locally if possible.

"That way we not only get the new, safer school buses but there is the added benefit of securing jobs and boosting business for the local bus manufacturing industry."

Mr Mickel said Queensland's 1600-vehicle school bus fleet transported 83,000 eligible students in regional, rural and remote areas to school and home each day, at an annual cost of around $100 million.

"The new funding will expand the government's already successful School BUS program, which has so far funded the replacement of some 470 buses at a cost of more than $36 million," Mr Mickel said.

"We need to progressively replace older buses - targeting the oldest ones first - to ensure the fleet is renewed with vehicles that have the latest safety and technology features.

"Queensland Transport will work with bus industry bodies to implement the expanded replacement program of school buses in provincial areas, with funding to start in July," Mr Mickel said.

==============================================================