The Barnett Government has run down services at the Department of Transport in a penny-pinching crusade that is letting down the community.

That is the view of the Community and Public Sector Union/Civil Service Association with a northern suburbs licensing centre only having two driving assessors and learner drivers waiting up to seven weeks for a test.

Four years ago the Morley centre, which covers a huge region, had seven assessors.

CPSU/CSA Branch Secretary Toni Walkington said now there were less assessors and a bigger waiting list which didn’t make sense.

The two assessors manage 168 tests a fortnight compared to the 588 when there were seven assessors.

The nearest centres are Joondalup, Midland and City West and are too far away for many people, including people over the age of 85 years who have to be assessed every 12 months.

One elderly man was distressed at not being able to having a 20-minute assessment at his local centre – all so he could just drive in the neighbourhood he was familiar with.

It was only after protesting that he was assessed at Morley.

A lot of people sitting tests are nervous or from non-English speaking backgrounds and there is anecdotal evidence that more are likely to avoid tests if they have to go out of their comfort zone.

Professional driving instructors are also infuriated at the reduction in assessor numbers at Morley.

Requests from the Morley assessors to work overtime and on their days off to alleviate the waiting times have been rejected.

Yet they have been given approval to work at other centres.

“We believe the government is winding up assessments at the centre and we call on the decision makers to confirm they are going to maintain an appropriate level of service that the community expects.

“If the government doesn’t put in extra resources in Morley it is a slap in the face to the people in the area that includes Mirrabooka, Dianella, Duncraig and Karrinyup who should have local access to these vital government services.”

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