States and territories should be forced to share road accident data with the federal government to help stem Australia’s rising fatalities, the peak medical body has said, as the nation’s transport ministers finalise a new funding agreement.
The only key statistic available about the nation’s roads is that they are leaving increasing numbers of Australians dead, more than 1,200 in the past year. Information on road conditions, accidents and policing – which might help explain how these fatalities occur – are kept by state and territory governments but not shared with the federal government.
The Australian Medical Association has called on the federal government to mandate data-sharing obligations to guide investment in the new funding agreement it is about to finalise with the states and territories.
All transport ministers will meet in Hobart on Wednesday to negotiate the terms of a new National Partnership Agreement on Land Transport Infrastructure Projects, which will determine how $50bn in federal road funding is allocated between 2024 and 2030.
The AMA has written to the federal transport minister, Catherine King, backing the calls contained in the Australian Automobile Association’s Data Saves Lives campaign.
The president of the AMA, Prof Steve Robson, said funding was already tied to the publication of data in federal-state funding agreements for health, education and housing.
Robson said doctors supported the idea because they are the ones who are left to save Australians involved in accidents.
“Medical practitioners, along with paramedics, ambulance officers and nurses, frequently witness the health consequences of road trauma,” Robson said.
“Accidents take lives and cause serious injuries. To understand what’s really happening and to develop effective policy we need a dataset that gives the big picture.
“A national dataset would provide a better understanding of the causes of crashes and help guide investment in more effective road safety and transport infrastructure policy.
“The National Road Safety Strategy objective to work towards the goal of zero deaths and serious injuries on our roads by 2050, will not be achieved if states and territories gatekeep their data.”
Michael Bradley, the managing director of the AAA, said the AMA’s “powerful statement sent the ministers an unambiguous message to end secrecy and utilise data to produce more effective road safety policies”.
“Despite billions spent each year on our roads, deaths are increasing and the data can tell us what is going wrong.
“Doctors and first responders serve on the frontlines of the nation’s road safety crisis. They deal with the tragic human outcomes of road trauma. Politicians should listen to doctors and put safety ahead of secrecy.”
The AAA said its proposals for its campaign had been endorsed by all Liberal, Nationals, Greens and teal MPs in the House of Representatives, but Labor MPs had declined to support the campaign.
“The meeting of ministers is an opportunity for Minister King and her colleagues to make a real difference in improving road safety policies and enhancing public oversight of how public money is spent.”
