Kimberley trip prompts Transport Minister Rita Saffioti to probe remote drivers licence policy

A trip to the Kimberley by WA’s transport minister has pressed home the need for new ideas to get more Aboriginal people behind the wheel to boost job prospects for remote West Australian residents. Speaking in Broome this month after spending time in the region, Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said she would probe policy ideas to improve access to driver training and licensing services. “One of the issues which keeps being raised is driver’s licences, how we can do more to support young people with driver’s licences,” she said. “Those driver’s licences are the key gateway to getting work and if we don’t address that, I suspect there will be a cohort that continue to miss out on job opportunities.” Ms Saffioti’s comments come as the State Government rolls on with a six-year program to upgrade Great Northern Highway. It is hoped the program will lead to training and employment for Aboriginal residents. “What we are doing is programming work over the next five to six years with the aim of making sure we can train local Aboriginal people and also get local Aboriginal businesses involved,” Ms Saffioti said. “We have seen real success through Broome and the West Kimberley with projects like the Cape Leveque Road. “We want to roll that out to the East Kimberley and are looking at ways for how we can improve that.” Under the Ord River North project two single-lane bridges will be removed, and another four are also slated for improvements. Kimberley MLA Divina D’Anna noted the road between Frog Hollow and Kununurra as in particular need of safety upgrades