In a combative exchange at a recent Senate Estimates, Senator Bridget McKenzie absolutely savaged Transport Minister Catherine King. The target of their fiery back-and-forth – protecting learner drivers. The coalition’s first demand is that the U.S. government immediately put a stop to reported harassment and assaults against young drivers. The two-week long exchange highlighted the great distance that remains on the controversial bill. King had already flagged these matters in a letter to her state and territory colleagues dated earlier this month.
McKenzie went on to slam King for her inability to act properly on the growing cases of predatory attacks against learner drivers. Consequently, the debates became more vitriolic. McKenzie underscored the immediate need to act. She stressed the need for King to do more than talk the talk and walk the walk with real, effective policies.
“It’s one thing for Minister King to say she’s appalled … it’s another thing to get off your arse and actually do something about it,” – Senator Bridget McKenzie
Lack of Action from the Department
Perhaps the most telling comment came from Transport Department Secretary Jim Betts during last weeks Senate Estimates hearing. He revealed that Catherine King had not requested any briefings from the department on possible Commonwealth avenues to resolve the problem. This admission quickly led to questions over the government’s sincerity on tackling the issue.
Betts said he wasn’t familiar with any outreach from King seeking direction or assistance. I want to underscore here that there seems to be zero communication or recourse provided to students who receive these hugely alarming and harassing reports. This failure to act preemptively has contributed to the anger felt by legislators and advocates who are now demanding urgent and immediate changes.
The Transport Minister’s office has since responded to McKenzie’s criticisms, although it remains unclear whether the issue will be included in discussions at the final meeting of state and territory counterparts scheduled for 2025.
Incidents of Harassment
This concern became even more pressing after hearing testimonies from those who have faced harassment while trying to learn how to drive. One woman told us a deeply concerning story about the impact. She alleged that her driving instructor sexually harassed her by rubbing his hand across her breast while instructing her.
“I was 16 years old and he rubbed his hand across my chest to indicate which way to turn,” – a woman who was allegedly harassed by a driving instructor.
Another woman’s story corroborates the experience, explaining how her instructor groped her during driving lessons.
“The instructor put his hand on my knee and said every time I made a mistake he would move his hand further up my leg,” – a woman who was allegedly harassed by a driving instructor.
These shocking stories highlight the desperate need for stronger policies and improved safety standards for aspiring new drivers.
Responsibility and Leadership
Assistant Education Minister Anthony Chisholm has been on the front foot defending the government’s position. He insists that states and territories should be held most accountable for the safety outcomes of their actions. He noted that the practical implementation side of driver education and safety was their lane.
“The reality of the way that the systems are run is that the states and territories do have responsibility for managing those outcomes,” – Anthony Chisholm.
Critics argue the federal government needs to play a much more aggressive role. They claim this is a necessary step to tackling the systemic issues that endanger learner drivers’ safety. An unnamed source noted the delayed response from McKenzie, stating, “It’s worth noting that while Senator McKenzie has called for ‘immediate’ action, it has taken her 5 weeks to raise this issue.”
Others close to the organization believe that McKenzie should have taken a more collaborative approach. She should have been actively negotiating directly with King’s office rather than only having her concerns raised publicly in Senate Estimates.
