Page 5724 - Week 13 - Thursday, 18 November 2010
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who are reasonably unable to undertake a drug awareness course during the period of disqualification to apply for a temporary probationary licence. This is a logical extension to ensure that people will not be discriminated against if they take reasonable steps to fulfil their obligations.
Madam Assistant Speaker, please note that, as for alcohol awareness courses, these amendments will commence on notice. I am aware that there is currently not a suitable program in place in the ACT and that the Road Transport Authority needs time to allow for establishment. It has been indicated to me that the authorities are hoping to have alcohol awareness courses established within six to eight months and I am hopeful that drug awareness courses may take place in a similar time frame.
MS BRESNAN (Brindabella) (4.49): The Greens will be supporting this amendment, as it enables the Road Transport Authority to require a person to attend a drug awareness course after being convicted of a drug-driving offence. Providing a drug awareness course for offenders found guilty of drug driving is consistent with the approach taken to drink driving. It is a commonsense approach to changing behaviour.
Raising awareness of the dangers of drugs and driving amongst offenders is an important step to changing behaviour. It should be noted that, unlike with alcohol, where over 95 per cent of alcohol users believe that it negatively impacts on driving ability, in the case of drugs almost 50 per cent of drug users believe that drugs have no negative impacts on driving ability.
I raise this point because in many circumstances the first time a person convicted of a drug-driving offence receives information about the perils of drug driving will be during this course. We need to correct this information in the community about the effects of drugs on driving as a matter of urgency.
The ACT Greens have urged the government to conduct public awareness campaigns as part of the rollout of any roadside drug testing scheme. I would note that the Victorian Transport Accident Commission is currently conducting a campaign about drug-driving and would urge the government to consider conducting a similar campaign here.
MR STANHOPE (Ginninderra—Chief Minister, Minister for Transport, Minister for Territory and Municipal Services, Minister for Business and Economic Development, Minister for Land and Property Services, Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs and Minister for the Arts and Heritage) (4.50): The government will also support the amendment. The government has no objection in principle. Indeed, the position the government has taken in relation to this issue was influenced certainly by a lack of experience and a lack of understanding at this stage around how the drug testing regime will evolve in practice.
As we work it up and get the arrangements in place, there was a view that we would take some time to simply understand the level of testing that will be undertaken and the number of offenders that will be convicted who would ultimately call upon a course such as this. So we are more than agreeable to accepting these amendments. I am sure members—and Mr Hanson has expressed this view—will understand that it
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