Page 1028 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 17 March 2010
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MR HANSON: By “brief”, I did mean that it was going to be a statement that was not going to go for an hour or so, but I am certainly going to complete what I set out to say, Madam Assistant Speaker. And I will not be further muzzled by the government or the Greens in making what are very important points about road safety in this community. I will not be muzzled. If they choose to muzzle me further then that would be against my will. We have probably just wasted 10 minutes. I would probably have been finished by now, Madam Assistant Speaker, if these vexatious points of order had not been raised. It has probably not done much to make me of a mind to keep my comments particularly brief, I must say. May I continue, Madam Assistant Speaker?
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Certainly, Mr Hanson. You have the floor.
MR HANSON: The University of Canberra hosted a drugs and driving forum in June 2008 to provide an opportunity—this is quoting from the TAMS website—for the public to hear from experts on the impact of drugs and driving, learn about random drug testing in other parts of Australia and gain an insight into current research into drug driving. The forum included presentations and general discussion by a panel comprising University of Canberra researchers, a New South Wales police forensic pharmacologist, a member of the Victorian police traffic drug and alcohol unit—
Mr Hargreaves: A point of order, Madam Assistant Speaker, under standing order 62, on the basis of repetitious and tedious argument, I ask that you sit the member down.
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER: One moment. I will look at standing order 62.
MR HANSON: Madam Assistant Speaker, on the point of order, there is nothing that I have said that is tedious or repetitious. Madam Assistant Speaker, I am quoting. If it is tedious or repetitious, it is only because I am quoting from the government’s own website.
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Mr Hanson, I think you may continue.
MR HANSON: Thank you. As I said, the forum included presentations from a range of people, a drug and alcohol unit, the ACT Human Rights Commission, the ACT Government Analytical Laboratory and a health-focused social researcher. Those submissions are all available for the Greens to read, if they wish to, on the TAMS website.
There was a discussion paper that was released by the government in May 2008, and it included a chapter on drugs and driving. Submissions have been made to the government—they are available on the websites—about random drug testing. There has been extensive engagement with the community. There are submissions—go ahead and read them; I know that Mr Rattenbury has not; I know that Ms Bresnan has not—from ACT Policing, the Australian Trucking Association, Civil Liberties Australia, Clinical Forensics ACT, Drug Free Australia, the Australasian Institute of Drug and Alcohol Testing Inc, Families and Friends for Drug Law Reform, Guardian Interlock, UnionsACT, Directions ACT, David McDonald’s Social Research and Evaluation Pty Ltd, NRMA Motoring and Services and the ACT Democrats.
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