Page 5726 - Week 13 - Thursday, 18 November 2010

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MR HANSON (Molonglo) (4.55): I move amendment No 3 circulated in my name [see schedule 2 at page 5754].

This is a consequential amendment and ensures that the Road Transport Authority must not issue a probationary licence without the completion of a drug awareness course.

MS BRESNAN (Brindabella) (4.55): As per my reason for the previous amendment, the Greens will be supporting this as again it is about a drug awareness course.

Amendment agreed to.

Clause 123, as amended, agreed to.

Clauses 124 and 125, by leave, taken together and agreed to.

Clause 126.

MR HANSON (Molonglo) (4.56): I move amendment No 4 circulated in my name [see schedule 2 at page 5754].

This amendment sets out the substantive provisions requiring drug awareness courses to be completed, as foreshadowed in my earlier speech. This amendment provides for people convicted of drug impairment offences to undertake a drug awareness course before being able to apply for a restricted or probationary licence. We want to ensure that not only drink drivers but also drug drivers are required to undertake an awareness course as part of the penalty for the offence.

As highlighted earlier, the disparity between the offences of drug and drink driving currently exists and our amendment ensures that this disparity is fixed. I foreshadow, again, that we will be supporting the amendment by Ms Bresnan that makes provision for people convicted under a drug-driving offence and reasonably unable to take that awareness course during the period of disqualification to apply for a temporary probationary licence.

As for the alcohol awareness courses, these amendments will commence on notice, and we await further guidance from the government as to when a drug awareness course will indeed be established.

MS BRESNAN (Brindabella) (4.57): The Greens will be supporting this amendment as it provides a new heading to reflect the new drug awareness course.

Amendment agreed to.

MS BRESNAN (Brindabella) (4.58): I move amendment No 1 circulated in my name [see schedule 3 at page 5758].

The amendment I am proposing amends the Road Transport (Driver Licensing) Regulation 2000. These provisions allow for the Road Transport Authority to issue a


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