❓ Mr. Johnson questions the Minister for Road Safety on the lack of support for the Road Traffic Legislation Amendment (Disqualification for Life) Bill 2016, highlighting bipartisan support and potential life-saving impact. The Minister defends the government's cautious approach, emphasizing the need for workable legislation and existing initiatives like the alcohol interlock program.
AnsweredQoN 418Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ROAD
TRAFFIC LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (DISQUALIFICATION FOR LIFE) BILL 2016
418. Mr R.F. JOHNSON to the
Minister for Road Safety:
There is no commitment there at all. I have a supplementary
question. Given that the Liberal Party met yesterday and had ample time to
discuss these very simple amendments, plus the fact that the Labor Party has
given its unconditional support and has offered its own time during private
members' time to debate and pass this bill, can the minister explain to
this house, in front of these two brave young ladies, why she is refusing to
support a measure that could save countless lives on our roads?
TRAFFIC LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (DISQUALIFICATION FOR LIFE) BILL 2016
418. Mr R.F. JOHNSON to the
Minister for Road Safety:
There is no commitment there at all. I have a supplementary
question. Given that the Liberal Party met yesterday and had ample time to
discuss these very simple amendments, plus the fact that the Labor Party has
given its unconditional support and has offered its own time during private
members' time to debate and pass this bill, can the minister explain to
this house, in front of these two brave young ladies, why she is refusing to
support a measure that could save countless lives on our roads?
AnswerView source ↗
I draw the attention of the house to a number of initiatives
that I have put in place as Minister for Police. One is the alcohol interlock
program. Should any driver convicted of a serious drink-driving offence—an
in excess of .15 offence, a more serious offence in which injury or death has
been involved, or a second drink-driving offence—ever be issued with a driver's
licence by the courts or by the Department of Transport, they will have to have
an alcohol interlock device fitted. Those devices absolutely interrupt the
drink-driving behaviour of recidivist offenders who drive while under the
influence of alcohol; they help to break that link between drinking and driving
and prevent those people from driving should they have consumed alcohol. That
will be operational in the near future, and will have a significant impact in
ensuring that we can get those drivers off our roads.
With respect to the legislation, the
responsibility of government is to ensure that legislation that passes through
this place works, and that it intersects —
Mr
R.F. Johnson interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Hillarys, let the minister answer.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : It is important that legislation that passes through this
place be workable, and, as is often the case, work in with other pieces of
legislation to ensure that the intent we are trying to achieve is right. We are
giving the member for Hillarys' bill careful consideration. We
absolutely understand the intent, but I will not be responsible for supporting
legislation that goes through this place and does not achieve its intent or its
purpose. We will give it due consideration and make sure that legislation we
pass through this place does not have hidden flaws that cause problems for
individuals in our community and does not achieve its intent.
that I have put in place as Minister for Police. One is the alcohol interlock
program. Should any driver convicted of a serious drink-driving offence—an
in excess of .15 offence, a more serious offence in which injury or death has
been involved, or a second drink-driving offence—ever be issued with a driver's
licence by the courts or by the Department of Transport, they will have to have
an alcohol interlock device fitted. Those devices absolutely interrupt the
drink-driving behaviour of recidivist offenders who drive while under the
influence of alcohol; they help to break that link between drinking and driving
and prevent those people from driving should they have consumed alcohol. That
will be operational in the near future, and will have a significant impact in
ensuring that we can get those drivers off our roads.
With respect to the legislation, the
responsibility of government is to ensure that legislation that passes through
this place works, and that it intersects —
Mr
R.F. Johnson interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Hillarys, let the minister answer.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : It is important that legislation that passes through this
place be workable, and, as is often the case, work in with other pieces of
legislation to ensure that the intent we are trying to achieve is right. We are
giving the member for Hillarys' bill careful consideration. We
absolutely understand the intent, but I will not be responsible for supporting
legislation that goes through this place and does not achieve its intent or its
purpose. We will give it due consideration and make sure that legislation we
pass through this place does not have hidden flaws that cause problems for
individuals in our community and does not achieve its intent.
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