State Transport Minister evades speed limit reversal probe

Friday March 22, 2019

Published by The Border Watch

 

FOR the sixth time since the 2018 election, Transport Minister Stephan Knoll has evaded answering a question in Parliament about when speed limits along two South East roads will be reversed. 

In Tuesday’s sitting of Parliament, Mount Gambier MP Troy Bell sought a response on when the default speed limit would be raised back to 110kph. 

Mr Knoll said he would provide an answer as soon as he could. 

“I’m not being coy or facetious ... we take this very seriously,” he said. 

It is the second time this year Mr Bell has asked the question in Parliament, with the independent MP quizzing the junior minister four times in 2018. 

In each instance Mr Knoll has not provided a time frame, instead launching into a lengthy explanation around country roads, with this week’s speech touching on roads in the Eyre Peninsula. 

Before the election, the State Liberals pledged to reinstate speed limits on eight regional roads after they were dropped to 100kph by the Weatherill Government. 

Last year, Grant District Council wrote to Mr Knoll seeking the government’s position on the reinstatement of the 110kph speed limit on Port MacDonnell and Carpenter Rocks Road. 

Despite Mr Knoll speaking on the matter in Parliament, Police Minister Corey Wingard responded to council saying the state Transport Department had determined infrastructure upgrades were required before the speed limit is reversed.