QLD: Minister defends not telling families of campaign

AAP General News (Australia)
12-10-1999
QLD: Minister defends not telling families of campaign

Queensland's transport minister has defended a decision not to tell families a shock
road safety campaign is to include graphic photographs of relatives' car wrecks.

Queensland Transport hasn't informed families that photos of their loved one's crashed
vehicles will illustrate the Christmas campaign - Beware the Fatal Four.

The shocking billboard and television ads, featuring police photographs with gruesome
captions, targets speeding, drink driving, fatigue and not wearing seatbelts.

Transport minister STEVE BREDHAUER has told state parliament the photos are computer
altered so the cars and scenes are not readily identified, and families haven't been told
to avoid unnecessary grief.

Mr BREDHAUER says they have changed the colour of vehicles and removed number plates
or identifying features, while in some cases the background of the vehicle has been altered.

But the Queensland Council for Civil Liberties says the action is extraordinarily insensitive
and has called for new laws to protect the reporting of road, train and other traumatic
events by the media.

AAP RTV ap/sc/tso/wz

KEYWORD: FATALS (BRISBANE)

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