A WA parliamentary question regarding the delay in legislating drug driving laws, despite promises and growing evidence of its dangers. The Minister responds that legislation is being drafted and awaits certified drug detection technology.

AnsweredQoN 374Legislative Assembly
Asked
23 June 2004
Portfolio
Police and Emergency Services

QuestionView source ↗

I refer the minister to her statement in this House on 20 November 2003 that she would legislate this year to combat drug driving through a combination of tougher penalties and roadside drug testing. (1) Does the minister concede that at a time when more and more research is showing the devastating effects of drug driving, and when her Government has decriminalised cannabis, the introduction of such laws is a matter of urgency? (2) Will the minister confirm that nearly seven months later she has taken no such action? (3) When will the minister stop making announcements and start taking action? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS

AnswerView source ↗

(1)-(3) Legislation is currently being drafted. I have told this House that drug driving is a serious matter. One of the things we need to be prepared for is the advent of gadgets or implements that will accurately detect the presence of drugs in the same way that gadgets are used for random breath testing. A certain implement has been trialled in Victoria and other potential implements are available. However, none of those is certified for use by law enforcement agencies at this point in time. We will be ahead of the game and legislation will be in place before those kinds of implements are certified and widely available.
(1) Does the minister concede that at a time when more and more research is showing the devastating effects of drug driving, and when her Government has decriminalised cannabis, the introduction of such laws is a matter of urgency? (2) Will the minister confirm that nearly seven months later she has taken no such action? (3) When will the minister stop making announcements and start taking action? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(3) Legislation is currently being drafted. I have told this House that drug driving is a serious matter. One of the things we need to be prepared for is the advent of gadgets or implements that will accurately detect the presence of drugs in the same way that gadgets are used for random breath testing. A certain implement has been trialled in Victoria and other potential implements are available. However, none of those is certified for use by law enforcement agencies at this point in time. We will be ahead of the game and legislation will be in place before those kinds of implements are certified and widely available.
(2) Will the minister confirm that nearly seven months later she has taken no such action? (3) When will the minister stop making announcements and start taking action? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(3) Legislation is currently being drafted. I have told this House that drug driving is a serious matter. One of the things we need to be prepared for is the advent of gadgets or implements that will accurately detect the presence of drugs in the same way that gadgets are used for random breath testing. A certain implement has been trialled in Victoria and other potential implements are available. However, none of those is certified for use by law enforcement agencies at this point in time. We will be ahead of the game and legislation will be in place before those kinds of implements are certified and widely available.
(3) When will the minister stop making announcements and start taking action? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(3) Legislation is currently being drafted. I have told this House that drug driving is a serious matter. One of the things we need to be prepared for is the advent of gadgets or implements that will accurately detect the presence of drugs in the same way that gadgets are used for random breath testing. A certain implement has been trialled in Victoria and other potential implements are available. However, none of those is certified for use by law enforcement agencies at this point in time. We will be ahead of the game and legislation will be in place before those kinds of implements are certified and widely available.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(3) Legislation is currently being drafted. I have told this House that drug driving is a serious matter. One of the things we need to be prepared for is the advent of gadgets or implements that will accurately detect the presence of drugs in the same way that gadgets are used for random breath testing. A certain implement has been trialled in Victoria and other potential implements are available. However, none of those is certified for use by law enforcement agencies at this point in time. We will be ahead of the game and legislation will be in place before those kinds of implements are certified and widely available.
(1)-(3) Legislation is currently being drafted. I have told this House that drug driving is a serious matter. One of the things we need to be prepared for is the advent of gadgets or implements that will accurately detect the presence of drugs in the same way that gadgets are used for random breath testing. A certain implement has been trialled in Victoria and other potential implements are available. However, none of those is certified for use by law enforcement agencies at this point in time. We will be ahead of the game and legislation will be in place before those kinds of implements are certified and widely available.

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