What was said before, and what was said after.
The following is an extract from a Parliamentary sitting. It was held on the 10th of May 1994, 10 days before the Cannonball Run took place... As you read this you may say to yourself, "Why didn't anyone listen" The simple fact is, there were only 10 days to go, rules can't be changed with only 10 days notice.
The following will help understand why the race was even considered to be held in the Northern Territory. If parliamentarians do these sort of speeds, why would they have speed limits?
(Click to view)
With everyone so careful not to call the Cannonball Run a "race" its funny seeing a letter signed by the then Chief Minister of the Northern Territory sending out a letter to all the competitors calling it exactly what it was... a race.....
Mr PARISH: Before honourable members get their
knickers in a twist about it, opposition members strongly support the concept of
the Cannonball Run, but I believe that Ayrton Senna's death illustrates just
what a dangerous game motor racing is and how quickly something can happen that
results in death. Despite the fact that this man was probably without peer in
terms of his skills, his reflexes and his experience in handling a car at speed
and despite the fact that he was operating on a track where all the vehicles
were travelling in the same direction, a track that had wide verges and sand
run-off areas etc to slow the cars down, nevertheless death overtook him in a
split second.
Like the AANT, (This is a breakdown service in the Northern
Territory) I have concerns about the Cannonball Run. I believe greater
efforts need to be made to ensure the safety of the event. I am aware that a
great deal of effort has been put into it. Hopefully everything will go well,
but factors, such as the approach speeds of vehicles on public roads where,
except for the controlled speed sections, the road will remain open to general
traffic, and the closing speeds of vehicles travelling both in the same
direction and when overtaking and in opposite directions, in my view pose
considerable dangers not only for the drivers in the race but for innocent road
users. Many pensioners ...
Mr Reed: I was doing 170 km/h when I was coming to Darwin the other day, and I
was overtaken!
Mr PARISH: That is true. However, there are many pensioners who travel up the
highway with their caravans or their campervans at 70 km/h or 80 km/h and they
are not necessarily expecting a car to be closing on them at the rate of 250
km/h.
Mr Bell: You were doing 170 km/h between Katherine and here?
Mr Reed: I do it regularly. Come with me some time.
Mr PARISH: The trouble is that it may well be that people like the member for
Katherine and myself ...
Mr Reed: And I was overtaken.
Mr PARISH: Mr Speaker, at the risk of horrifying the member for MacDonnell, I
must confess that I too drive between here and Katherine at those kinds of
speeds. However, people like the member for Katherine, myself and the Leader of
the Opposition, who travels at similar speeds, are experienced in driving on
country roads. We know the dangers. We know that these are unfenced roads and
that there is a danger of wandering stock. We know that you have to drive well
ahead of yourself mentally in order to cope with the situation. Many of the
participants in the Cannonball Run will be people who have never had their
Porsches or their Ferraris out of second gear. All their driving experience will
have been on roads that have a speed limit of 100 km/h. Even if you fancy
yourself as a good driver, if you do not have long experience of driving on the
open road at high speeds, you do not realise how quickly things can happen. You
do not realise how far ahead of yourself you have
to drive and you do not realise how long it takes to stop from a high speed.
I understand that there are no requirements that any of the drivers in this
event must hold a CAMS licence or must have undertaken advanced driver training.
I would not suggest that they should be required to hold a CAMS licence because
that would be unduly bureaucratic, but I would like to see some stronger
mandatory requirement for advanced driver training, both in general advanced
driving and also in terms of a specific education program for the drivers in the
hazards of driving on open Territory roads. If that does not happen, there is a
danger that all of the great publicity and the great potential tourist
attraction that the Cannonball Run can generate for the Northern Territory could
be lost through a horrific accident. Clearly, that is something we all want to
avoid and we all want to do everything in our power to ensure that that does not
happen. I urge members opposite and those involved in the organisation of the
run to have another look at the safety
aspects and the driver training aspects for this event because the death of
Ayrton Senna illustrates just how dangerous high-speed racing driving can be.
If only someone had listened to this man.... we might have had many more Cannonball Run events
What were the costs to the Northern Territory government of staging the 1994 Cannonball Run?
This was asked in Parliament June 30th 1994
Mr Speaker, I
undertook recently to provide this information and I believe this is an
appropriate opportunity. The Cannonball Run attracted 118 entries. There were
approximately 340 visitors to the Territory, including drivers, crew, support
and media personnel, and the staff of the organisers. If one includes the
officials and volunteers from the Northern Territory, a total of about 600
people were involved directly in the event. As members would appreciate,
organising and conducting such an event is an enormous and expensive exercise
involving meticulous attention to detail. Despite the tragic accident that
occurred, overall it was a well-organised and well-conducted event with the
Territory receiving extensive media coverage. Some 90 media representatives were
accredited to cover the event.
The Territory government contributed both financial and in-kind support to
facilitate the Cannonball Run. Direct financial support included commissioning a
feasibility study, the marketing and promotion of tour packages by the Tourist
Commission, the provision of number plates, the provision of protective clothing
for government officials, overtime, accommodation and travel allowance for
police and government officials and the provision of telephone and fax
facilities. The total direct costs are estimated at $203 939.
Mr Speaker, I table a breakdown of those expenses for the information of
members. In-kind assistance provided by police and other public servants was
their on-the-job time, the provision of vehicles, accelerated road maintenance
and grass slashing, the use of venues such as the Wharf Precinct and the
warehouse space at the TDZ, and reusable equipment such as barricades and
traffic control signs. Obviously, community benefits remain after the event from
items such as road maintenance, grass clearing and reusable equipment. The
overwhelming community support for the Cannonball Run resulted in hundreds of
voluntary man hours being contributed by Territorians from all walks of life,
including many public servants, particularly public servants from the Department
of Transport and Works.
The government supported the Cannonball Run for the promotional benefits to the
Territory, just as we support the World Solar Challenge and other states support
major motor sports events within their borders. I propose to make a more
comprehensive statement on the Cannonball Run when more information is available
and consultations have been held with a number of people. However, as a result
of media inquiries before the Cannonball Run was conducted, I undertook to
release information about the costs when they were available after the event. I
have taken this opportunity to do that.
13th of October 1994
The Chief
Minister has been totally exposed for his conflicting statements about the
Cannonball Run. Members will recall that the Chief Minister and members opposite
stated, in Australia at least, that the Cannonball Run was a run and not a race.
It has now been revealed that the Chief Minister was personally promoting the
event in Japan as "one of the great car races of all time". How does the Chief
Minister explain his behaviour in this matter, and does he accept that his
promotion of the event as a race placed the lives of ordinary road users in the
Northern Territory at risk and led to the tragedy that occurred?
Mr Perron: Mr Speaker, I am a little surprised that the Leader of the Opposition should
raise this issue in the House on this occasion because, to date, and I commend
him for it, his statements in relation to the Cannonball Run, in particular
after the tragic accident which occurred earlier this year, have been eminently
responsible. However, he seems to have cast that attitude to one side at the
moment, notwithstanding the fact that there is a coroner's inquiry in progress
as we speak. I believe it is sitting this day. It is expected that it will run
for a couple of weeks and it is possible that I may be called as a witness by
that inquiry. I believe it would be inappropriate for me to make public
statements at this time, including statements made in this House under
privilege, which I appreciate I am entitled to do ...
Mr Ede: Why?
Mr Stone: Read your House of Representatives Practice.
Mr PERRON: It would be inappropriate. I am not saying that I do not have
the ability to do whatever I like on the floor of this House, within standing
orders of course. I have the protection of privilege. I am well aware of that. I
have been here a great deal longer than you have and I am likely to be here a
great deal longer than you are. However, this matter is being aired publicly and
perfectly properly in another forum at this stage, in a most serious and
thorough examination of the accident and, in due course, the coroner will
present his findings. Given the number of witnesses being called and the length
of this inquiry, it will be probably one of the most thoroughly examined motor
vehicle accidents in the history of Australia, and quite properly so. For me to
engage in discussion on matters that may be currently ...
Mr Bailey: That is why we have open courts.
Mr PERRON: ... relevant before the ...
Mr Ede: That is why we have parliaments.
Mr PERRON: Mr Speaker, I do not believe it is appropriate. I am very
willing to answer to this Chamber on any matters at any time after the coroner
has completed his inquiry.
Mr Ede: Then it will be sub judice.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr PERRON: Mr Speaker, in regard to the interjection by the Leader of the
Opposition, I suggest that he undertake a little study of the law.
Mr Ede: There it is - House of Representatives Practice.
Mr PERRON: I believe that he should take some advice on this matter from
a legal practitioner.
