Police Roadside Drug Testing Program

Ms LYLEA McMAHON: My question is addressed to the Minister for Police. Will the Minister update the House on the New South Wales Police Force Roadside Drug Testing Program?

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Wakehurst will cease injecting.

Mr DAVID CAMPBELL: I thank the member for Shellharbour for her interest in policing issues. I note that the Tallawarra power station, which the Premier spoke about, is located in the electorate of Shellharbour. We know how dangerous a motor vehicle can be when in the wrong hands. Cars provide an easy way to get around, but when a motorist is under the influence of alcohol or drugs those vehicles can become deadly weapons. For many years the New South Wales Police Force has done great work using random breath testing to change the culture of drink driving in this State. At the beginning of 2007 the Iemma Government embarked on a new assault on dangerous driving on our roads through the introduction of a Roadside Drug Testing Program.

After a successful first 12 months of taking dangerous, drug-affected drivers off the road, we ramped up operations by deploying a total of three roadside drug testing vans for targeted operations around the State. The current technology allows police to test for the presence of cannabis and amphetamines. I am pleased to advise the House that since the introduction of roadside drug testing 272 drivers have now tested positive to illegal drugs at the roadside.

The SPEAKER: Order! I remind the member for Clarence that he is already on two calls to order.

Mr DAVID CAMPBELL: Clearly, the member for Clarence is not interested in this important road safety issue. Those 272 drivers have faced, or are soon to face, court on charges of either driving with the presence of an illicit drug or driving under the influence of drugs. If caught driving under the influence of drugs, for the first offence a driver can have their licence suspended for between three months and six months and receive a maximum fine of $1,100. The penalty increases for a second offence, with a minimum licence suspension of six months or an unlimited maximum, and the fine is increased to a maximum of $2,200. The New South Wales Government is giving police the resources, support and tough powers needed to take dangerous, drug-affected drivers off the road.

In fact, 94 drivers have already tested positive to roadside drug testing this year alone. With operations held in places such as the northern beaches, Fairfield local area command, Kings Cross, Lake Illawarra local area command—I am sure the member for Shellharbour and our colleague the member for Kiama will be pleased to know that that activity has been taking place—and the Tweed-Byron, Waratah and Darling River local area commands, police have used this equipment to good effect. This equipment is the latest in technology to catch those who flout our laws.

Roadside drug testing was delivered amid fresh evidence that drug driving had become commonplace, especially among young people who were ignorant of the dangers of getting behind the wheel after taking illegal drugs. I know members opposite are not interested in this, but I appreciate that Government members are listening intently to this information. A survey of almost 7,000 drivers conducted by the Australian Drug Foundation last year found that more than 50 per cent of those who use cannabis or amphetamines had driven within three hours of taking the drug, and almost 40 per cent of ecstasy users said that they had driven within three hours of using that drug. These are concerning statistics, especially when one considers that a 1999 report showed that 24 per cent of drivers killed in New South Wales were found to have drugs in their system.

Those who get behind the wheel after taking illicit drugs are a ticking time bomb on our roads, and that is why police are using the latest equipment to catch them. This should serve as a warning to anyone who believes that they can get away with driving after taking illegal drugs. Almost 10,500 drug tests have been conducted since the roadside testing program began in January last year. The Government is committed to road safety, and is determined to keep the road toll low. It is good policy, supporting police in their efforts to keep New South Wales families safe. Indeed, it is a far cry from the attitude of members opposite. For example, the member for Coffs Harbour does not support our police. Back in January on radio 2SM he made disgraceful comments effectively telling our hardworking officers—

Mr Adrian Piccoli: Point of order: My point of order relates to Standing Order 129. Given that a Government member asked the question, I assumed the Minister understood the question. It is not about comments that may have been made by the member for Coffs Harbour or anyone else. Also, it is offensive for the Minister to suggest that any member of Parliament does not support the New South Wales police. He says it time and time again. We may not support the Government's policies but we all support the New South Wales police.

The SPEAKER: Order! There is no point of order. The member for Murrumbidgee is aware that this is question time and the Minister is responding to a question. The answer is relevant to the question asked. The member can use other forms of the House to correct the record if he feels the need to do so.

Mr DAVID CAMPBELL: The member for Coffs Harbour effectively told hardworking police officers that they deserve no credit for reducing the road toll. He put it all down to good luck.

Mr Andrew Stoner: Point of order: The standing orders provide that if a members wants to attack another member it must be done by way of a substantive motion.

The SPEAKER: Order! I have ruled on the point of order. The Minister's answer is within the standing orders.

Mr DAVID CAMPBELL: So the Opposition puts the reduction in the road toll down to good luck. It makes no comment about the work of the police but puts the reduction down to good luck. The Opposition spokesperson on police has a silver bullet theory on how to reduce the road toll. He suggests that highway patrol officers conduct a survey of those they book and ask them why they were speeding.

Mr Barry O'Farrell: Point of order: My point of order relates to Standing Order 129. I ask to have the question repeated. It was a narrow question about police and drug testing initiatives. It was not about the road toll generally.

The SPEAKER: Order! The second part of the question was fairly general. I remind the Minister to stay within the leave of the question.

Mr DAVID CAMPBELL: Those feeble attempts again demonstrate that those opposite are the biggest critics of the NSW Police Force. When it is drawn to the attention of the House the Opposition tries to close down debate because it knows it is true. Last week we saw the Opposition attack the commissioner when 16 of the 17 major categories of crime statistics are falling or stable.

The SPEAKER: Order! Members will cease interjecting.

Mr DAVID CAMPBELL: I have said it before and I will say it again: Those opposite are the biggest critics of the NSW Police Force—and they have just demonstrated it. While the Coalition continues to criticise, the Government will get on with the job of giving the police the equipment, laws and support to keep our roads safe for the working families of New South Wales.

The SPEAKER: Order! Members will come to order.