The NSW Public Service Association warns job cuts and budget reductions at the Centre for Road Safety could compromise more than a decade’s progress on reducing the state’s road toll.

There were 376 people killed on NSW roads last year, down from 405 the previous year and 534 about 10 years ago .

PSA Assistant Secretary, Steve Turner, says job cuts will jeopardise the ongoing safety of pedestrians, cyclists and road users across NSW.

“The State Government’s decision to slash jobs at the Centre for Road Safety will apply the brakes on innovative policy programs designed to save lives on NSW’s roads,” Mr Turner said today.

“Cutbacks at the Centre for Road Safety will compromise the centre’s ability to deliver specialised work including road safety education programs for children and high-impact public campaigns such as the ‘pinkie’ advertisement telling young drivers that “no one thinks big of you” when you speed.

“The NSW Government has denied frontline services will be affected by its 1.2% cut in staffing across agencies, but what could be more frontline than effective road safety programs?

“Only last month, Minister for Roads Duncan Gay announced that for the first time revenue raised from speed cameras would go towards road safety programs, yet we now hear the specialist staff driving these initiatives will lose their jobs.

“We need an explanation from the NSW Government on how it can possibly make our roads safer while taking the axe to our road safety experts and their support staff,” Mr Turner said. 

Contact Details
Steve Turner, Asst General Secretary
Ph:  02 9220 0900