Page 3955 - Week 14 - Tuesday, 23 October 1990
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Mrs Grassby: No, the Canberra Times got it right. You are all wrong.
MR DUBY: Well, there is the simple fact. This does not affect by one hour, or one day, the amount of time that a person will spend in gaol for not paying his traffic infringement notice. I feel very embarrassed for the members opposite.
Mr Stevenson raised some issues in relation to driving education and testing. Might I say, Mr Stevenson, that I support entirely the thrust of your argument in terms of reducing the road toll. It requires an increase in driver education and more resources in that area. And, of course, this Government is doing just that. We have introduced increased driver education for motorcyclists and compulsory motorcycle training for people who require a motorcycle licence, and I can tell you, Mr Stevenson, that I will be bringing before the Government proposed legislation regarding the registration, instruction and licensing of driver education officers, if that is the term for people who do that for a living - registration and testing. That is under review and I would anticipate that legislation along that line will be brought into the Assembly next year.
I reject your claim that traffic infringement notices are used as a source of revenue by this Government.
Mr Stevenson: Of course you would. What are you going to say? That it is true?
MR DUBY: Of course I am not going to say that it is true, because it is not. I reject that claim entirely and I think it is an effrontery to our police force and to the general - - -
Mr Stevenson: It has nothing to do with the police force, and you know it.
MR SPEAKER: Order!
Mr Stevenson: They simply do the job they are told to by politicians.
MR DUBY: Oh, please!
Mr Kaine: I do not tell police officers to do anything. Do you?
MR DUBY: No, and I am the Minister for Finance and the person in charge of the Commissioner for ACT Revenue and I can assure you that I certainly give no instructions to the police saying, "By the way, we are short a few bob this week, fellows. Go out and see what you can pick up in speeding fines". I have no bearing in that. So, I reject that and it is an effrontery to the police of this Territory who do a noble job in enforcing the law and
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