It has been almost 10 years since David Bridge and his two children Jordan, 13, and Makeely, 11, died in a fuel tanker crash on the NSW south coast on their way back from a family Christmas in Tarrawingee.
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Jack and Jenny Murray, the grandparents of the two girls, still live at Tarrawingee and have been advocating over the years for modifications to dangerous goods tankers to prevent another similar tragedy.
Ovens Valley MP Tim McCurdy shared their story in Victorian Parliament this week as he supported the increasing of fines for breaking the law around transporting dangerous goods.
Under proposed legislation, fines for transporting goods classified as too dangerous; failing to transport goods in a safe manner; and failing to take precautions to prevent tampering, theft, fires, explosions, leakage or damage to the public from dangerous goods all increase from $82,000 to $300,000 for individuals and from $413,000 to nearly $1.5 million for corporate enterprises.
"These are the sort of changes we can make to try and assist families who have been through this," Mr McCurdy said.
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"Although increasing fines is a good incentive, and that is how this legislation is written, it is also important to be mindful to encourage more responsible transportation of dangerous goods.
"There is no doubt in my mind and in the minds of the Murray family that these measures must be taken in conjunction with more modern braking systems."
Jack and Jenny Murray's daughter Debbie was also in the car during the 2009 crash and suffered serious burns, before she killed herself two years later.
"Sometimes in this place I think we need to be reminded that the legislation we pass does make a meaningful difference to families and people who have been affected," Mr McCurdy said.
"I completely understand logistics and as a country MP respect the products and goods that have to be moved around, but the way in which they are moved and the safety in which they are moved is what is absolutely important and vital for all of our communities."