Nile Calls for Driver Drug Tests
The Rev Fred Nile MLC has called on the Government to honour its previous commitment to introduce roadside drug testing for NSW drivers.
Rev Nile raised the issue yesterday during question time in the NSW Legislative Council;
“I wish to ask the Minister for Roads a question without notice. Is it a fact that Chief Superintendent John Lipman announced late last year that roadside drug testing would commence early in 2006? Is it a fact that 67 per cent of persons surveyed by the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre showed that they had driven within an hour of taking illegal drugs? What month will roadside drug testing commence in New South Wales to reduce road accidents and deaths?”, Rev Nile inquired.
The Hon. Eric Roozendaal MLC responded for the Government, “I am advised that the decision to introduce the new drug testing bill is being finalised. Extensive consultation has been undertaken between the Roads and Traffic Authority, NSW Police, NSW Health and the Attorney General's Department. The legal issues involved are complex and the testing technology itself is new. The Government has worked hard to make sure it gets the legislation right following the problems experienced elsewhere. We must avoid the Victorian experience. I am advised that during the Victorian trial, police experienced problems on the first day of testing when the technology returned an incorrect positive result on the fourth driver tested.
I am further advised the Roads and Traffic Authority and NSW Police have been working together closely to ensure that the new technology used is accurate, appropriate and minimises delays for drivers. Unlike the Victorian legislation, the new New South Wales laws include two separate proposals designed to enhance police powers with regard to drug driving enforcement. These new laws will permit both random roadside drug testing using saliva and compulsory drug testing of any driver, rider or supervising licence holder involved in a fatal crash.”