Page 5493 - Week 15 - Wednesday, 9 December 2009
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
He goes on to say:
“I cannot understand the naivety and disregard for public safety being shown by the Stanhope government by failing to take action on drug driving.”
“Alcohol and drug consumption go hand in hand. It is naive to suggest that the ACT needs to only tackle drink driving. Public safety is ensured by giving police the power to conduct roadside alcohol and drug testing.”
“The Australian Federal Police Association represents the men and women who actually enforce the law. Our members are often exposed to the devastating consequences of drug-driving, yet are powerless to prevent this problem.”
The AFPA—
and he states this in his press release—
has no political affiliations. The AFPA supports good policy which increases public safety. The Stanhope government will be judged by members of the AFPA and the community if it fails to take action on drug-driving.
I do not think you could get a stronger statement from those who represent the people on the front line who deal with this issue every day.
The NRMA also support this legislation. They advised me of their support after consulting with them on this bill. Importantly, my proposed legislation has the backing of members of the community, who all seem to agree that something does need to be done. I have the backing of Mrs Alison Ryan. I am sure many of you would have seen Monday’s Canberra Times—I have a copy here—and you would have read the story about how her family was affected through the death of her 15-year-old daughter. Mrs Ryan has a victim impact statement that she has provided to me and I will, if I have time at the end of this speech, read elements of it, because they are very moving and present to us the human face of this tragedy.
Despite the plea from a mother of a victim of drug driving—indeed, a victim of drug driving herself—I ask: how many deaths will be enough, Mr Chief Minister, before you will enact or agree to this legislation? What is the number of destroyed lives before you will act? How can you say that you are serious about road safety while you play politics with this issue? You are not serious and nor is your government.
We have seen the tragic impact that drug driving has on individuals, families and communities. The time to act on this is now. The time for excuses is over. Every other jurisdiction has done this. RDT will not only serve as an effective deterrent but it will also, importantly, serve as an effective means of enforcing the law; otherwise why do we have the laws in place?
I will now go through how the testing will work under the proposed legislation. I note that Jon Stanhope has publicly criticised the bill before he has even seen it, but it is similar to the legislation that has been introduced in every other state and territory.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video