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basil.zempilas@mp.wa.gov.au

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Warden rules endanger kids

Inflexible employment rules are forcing experienced traffic wardens out of the role and leaving school crossings without supervision, Basil Zempilas has warned. Former Churchlands Primary warden Norbert Funke was told to resign when he requested leave, and was not replaced, meaning children had to cross busy roads alone.

Mr Zempilas is calling on the government to allow part-time shifts and job sharing to fix the shortage. The Pearson Street primary school crossing will be left unmanned this month when its only remaining warden travels overseas, and the nearby high school crossing has no wardens at all.

Mr Funke believes the fix is straightforward; let wardens take leave without losing their position, and make the role part-time so more people, including grandparents of local students, can take it on. "Wardens are definitely the safest way to do it," he said.

Car clips schoolkids at danger crossing

The CrossSafe campaign was in the news after a Floreat mother revealed her daughter was clipped by a car and her son nearly hit at the same crossing near Newman College. The incidents highlight what many western suburbs families already know — children are at risk getting to school.

The CrossSafe survey has so far found 70% of respondents believe their school crossings are unsafe, and 73% want the shortage of traffic wardens addressed.

Wembley Primary School has been without a warden at its Ruislip Street crossing since September last year.

Mr Zempilas is calling for more wardens by easing police-mandated hiring requirements, and says the cycle of unsafe crossings driving more car trips must be broken.

"No parent should have to worry about their child getting to school safely," he said.

Afraid to walk to school

Parents are opting to drive children to school rather than walk due to continuing safety fears around school crossings, according to a new survey by Mr Zempilas. Respondents reported frequent near-misses and unsafe conditions, with 85 per cent having witnessed speeding or dangerous driving, 74 per cent saying wardens were not present when expected, and 70 per cent believing their crossings were unsafe.

While the State Government committed $17.7m to deliver 23 new signalised pedestrian crossings around WA, but a police spokesperson confirmed two western suburbs schools — Hale and Wembley Downs Primary — will not be staffed. Mr Zempilas said the shortfall of 77 wardens required for more than 1,000 children's crossings outside of Perth's metropolitan area remains a critical concern.

Mr Zempilas said keeping communities safe is a government priority, and called for 100 smiley-face cameras to be installed in Churchlands to deter dangerous driving. "This isn't just a road safety issue, it's becoming a health and lifestyle issue for our children," he said.

Long wait for kids’ safety

Funding has been allocated for a signalised pedestrian crossing on Pearson Street, Churchlands, but lights won't be switched on until mid-2027 at the earliest, a delay Mr Zempilas called "unacceptable and disappointing." The crossing near Churchlands Primary School sits on a busy 70kmh four-lane road, and has been unattended for four months after its warden took leave with no replacement found.

Mr Zempilas has called on the state government to allow creative solutions to the warden shortage, including part-time roles and job sharing. Police Minister Reece Whitby said the government was always looking for more wardens but noted part-time roles would not resolve unplanned absences, and that rigorous integrity checks are required for the paid position.