Qld: Minister sorry for 'insensitive' demand to grieving kin

AAP General News (Australia)
08-19-2009
Qld: Minister sorry for 'insensitive' demand to grieving kin

By Gabrielle Dunlevy

BRISBANE, Aug 19 AAP - Queensland Main Roads Minister Craig Wallace has apologised
to the family of a woman killed in a road crash who were asked to pay for a guard rail
damaged in the accident.

A 26-year-old Mudgeeraba woman was killed when her car crossed the median strip on
the Pacific Motorway and ploughed into northbound traffic at Worongary, on the Gold Coast,
on June 13.

In parliament on Wednesday, Mudgeeraba MP Ros Bates tabled a copy of a letter from
the Department of Main Roads addressed to the executor of the woman's estate, seeking
payment for the damage.

"By law, this department is required to recover the costs of damage from the responsible
driver and this letter is to advise you about that process," it states.

Ms Bates asked: "Is this just another example of the heartless and insensitive way
this government treats Queenslanders?"

Mr Wallace said he was aware of the letter.

He said the department's director-general had sent a follow-up letter asking the family
to ignore the demand and had tried to contact them to apologise several times.

"This should not have happened, and I apologise for the distress this undoubtedly caused
the family," Mr Wallace said.

"The department does have a policy to seek costs for the damage caused to our road
infrastructure in some circumstances. However, this policy is meant to be administered
sensitively and compassionately.

"This did not happen in this case and that was inappropriate."

The policy was under review to ensure there was no repeat of the incident, Mr Wallace said.

AAP gd/pjo/jl

KEYWORD: LETTER

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