Page 2659 - Week 10 - Thursday, 15 October 1992
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to disappear. Therefore, another procedural reform will remove the requirement to ensure that the tests are not readily apparent to members of the public in cases where the tests are carried out at police stations. This will enable the police to carry out the tests in the same room where the other test subjects are under observation.
The new procedure will allow more efficient and less labour intensive processing of breath test subjects by avoiding the need for a police operator to observe and test each subject in a separate room. It also produces significant efficiencies in that at the moment a single breathalyser unit operates the old-fashioned equipment from a series of rooms in the Civic Police Station, and it is necessary for a person detained as a result of a screening test to be individually brought into the Civic Police Station. This machinery will be able to be operated by patrol officers at police stations around Canberra.
The Bill makes two changes to evidentiary provisions in the principal Act. Firstly, a print-out of the readings and other particulars from an approved breathalyser will be acceptable as evidence. The Drager Alcotest machine issues print-outs which detail information relevant to the test. The scope of this information in the print-out is prescribed in the regulations. It includes matters such as the date, start time and location of the test, particulars of the test subject and the police involved, test results, and so forth. Secondly, the words "prima facie" and "and of the facts on which they are based" will be omitted from the Act wherever they occur. The words do not add to or detract from the standard of proof otherwise required for establishing evidence under the relevant provisions of the principal Act. The Bill also makes provisions for retaining approval for those instruments already approved under the Act. I commend the Bill to the Assembly, and I present the explanatory memorandum for the Bill.
Debate (on motion by Mr Westende) adjourned.
PLANNING, DEVELOPMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE -
STANDING COMMITTEE
Report on New Capital Works Program 1992-93
Debate resumed from 17 September 1992, on motion by Mr Lamont:
That the report be noted.
MR CONNOLLY (Attorney-General, Minister for Housing and Community Services and Minister for Urban Services) (11.21): Mr Deputy Speaker, pursuant to standing order 77(d), I move:
That executive business be called on forthwith.
This is to enable the Standing Committee on Planning, Development and Infrastructure report on the 1992-93 new capital works program to be considered in the context of the Appropriation Bill 1992-93.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
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