Questions & Answers Paper No. 158 - Parliament of New South ...

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LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
MONDAY 12 OCTOBER 2009
(3) What has been the total cost of providing the Health Transport Unit vehicle since it was introduced to
Tomaree Community Hospital?
Answer—
I am advised:
Tomaree is a level two rural hospital and patients are transferred out of Tomaree to referral hospitals on a
clinical needs basis. That is, where a patient's condition warrants further assessment and⁄or greater
interventional or diagnostic care than is available at Tomaree.
Patients are primarily transferred to the Calvary Mater or John Hunter Hospitals where there are Staff
Specialists in most medical specialties and very sophisticated diagnostic services available.
(1) (a) $442,896.
(b) $542,771.
(c) $650,683.
(d) $808,810
(2) (a) and (b) The service commenced in September 2007. The 2007⁄2008 cost was $97,009.
(c) $139,210.
(3) Total cost of providing the Health Transport Unit vehicle since it was introduced to Tomaree
Community Hospital has been $236,219 for the period September 2007 to 30 June 2009.
*7432 CAR MODIFICATION LAWS—Mr Craig Baumann asked the Minister for Roads—
(1) What was the outcome of the 12 August meeting of the working party established to look at recent
car modification laws (VSI 50)?
(2) Who are the "industry, RTA and government representatives" in the working party?
(3) When will the working party meet again?
(4) Will there be amendments to VSI 50?
(5) If so, what amendments will be made?
(6) When will VSI 50 be introduced?
(7) What community consultation has⁄will take place?
Answer—
(1) The working party held a very productive meeting to review the detail of VSI 50 and to identify
areas of mutual concern. The RTA agreed to consider several suggestions made by industry
representatives about how they might simplify the approval and notification process for
modifications to suspension systems. The RTA also agreed to seek national comment on a proposal
to allow ride height increases of up to 75 millimetres that consist of 50 millimetres suspension
modification and 25 millimetre tyre radius increase. This suggestion, presented by the Australian
Automotive Aftermarket Association, formed part of their response to a review of the National Code
of Practice for Light Vehicle Construction and Modification currently being undertaken by the
Australian Motor Vehicle Certification Board.
(2) The working party consists of Pedders Suspensions, King Springs, Eibach Suspension Technology,
the Australian Automobile Aftermarket Association, The Motor Traders Association of NSW, the
NSW and ACT 4 Wheel Drive Association and representatives from Safer Vehicles Branch of the
NSW Centre for Road Safety and staff from the RTA Driver and Vehicle Services Branch
(3) The working party will be reconvened once national responses to the Australian Automotive
Aftermarket Association submission to the Australian Motor Vehicle Certification Board have been
received and considered.
(4) Unless there is national agreement to alter the National Code of Practice for Light Vehicle
Construction and Modification, there will only be minor amendments to VSI 50 that will simplify the
way an owner must notify the RTA of modifications that raise or lower their vehicle by less than 50
millimetres.
(5) See (4).
(6) It is anticipated that VSI 50 will be introduced late in 2009, including a transition arrangement to
allow work currently in progress to be completed.
(7) VSI 50 was developed as a response to the increased risk that raised or lowered vehicles may pose to
drivers, their occupants and other road users. VSI 50 is based on advice from manufacturers about
vehicle suspension design and policy about vehicle vehicle crash compatibility. It also included
feedback that had been received by the Australian Motor Vehicle Certification Board during its
public consultation phase for proposed amendments to the National Code of Practice for Light
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