Page 2877 - Week 07 - Wednesday, 30 June 2010
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referring to the human rights commissioner there—
and other submissions to the government’s discussion paper, there is no empirical evidence or data anywhere in the world that links drug use and road safety.
In light of the government’s own discussion paper, which I note is extensively referenced, as you would expect, it is comments like that I have really struggled with to be clear what the government is trying to achieve here. Because I cannot imagine—
Mr Stanhope: I was quoting the human rights commissioner.
MR RATTENBURY: But, Chief Minister, this is what I am struggling with, because
your own paper cites the evidence. It makes it clear what the situation is. You have spoken in this place and others about the impact of drugs on a driver’s ability to effectively handle and safely handle their vehicle, so I do find it very confusing. I think it does highlight to some extent the role the government is playing in this place on non-government legislation.
We saw it on the Greens’ hot-water bill, where Mr Barr came in here and said, “The Greens have got it wrong,” despite the fact that the Greens had copied it, essentially, from COAG models. Mr Barr came in here and said, “This is outrageous; the Greens are going ahead; my department has not been involved,” yet he was not prepared to bring on a single amendment to correct that, despite the fact that he apparently knew so much better.
The government was not prepared to engage. We have seen a similar outcome here, and it is partly why the Greens have been forced to work with Mr Hanson to move this legislation forward—because the government is not engaged. My office and Ms Bresnan’s office have worked very hard to get the best possible outcome on this legislation, to sit down and really do the work, to work collectively with Mr Hanson—and again it is very frustrating in this context, because all three parties in this place—well, at least most of us—have at times said, “This is an important thing to do. We need to improve road safety in Canberra.”
I have just cited some of the Chief Minister’s comments, and I get confused at times at exactly where the government wants to be on this one. But even matters such as coming in here and halfway through the detail stage tabling the submissions to the consultation process begs questions about motivation. It begs questions about sincerity and it begs questions about integrity.
I would urge the government, on an ongoing basis, to recognise the numbers in this place, to acknowledge that not every piece of good legislation, not every good idea, has to come from the executive benches, that there is space in this parliament for 17 members to make a contribution to the governance of the ACT, because that way we can get the best possible outcomes for this city. Specifically on the drug-driving legislation we are about to pass, it is not a silver bullet for road safety in this city; it is part of a broader process. There are many challenges that we face.
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