Page 2450 - Week 07 - Tuesday, 30 July 2019
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significantly fewer front-line police officers than we had almost a decade ago. This means that the ACT now has the smallest police force per capita in Australia. If the government were really serious about road safety, they would also look to increase police resourcing as a matter of urgency.
I would also like to acknowledge that this bill includes amendments which pave the way for the future of e-scooters in Canberra. Electronic scooters present an exciting opportunity in Canberra for commuters and tourists alike. The reasonably flat nature of our inner suburbs means our existing cycleways make Canberra a natural fit for e-scooters and a more diverse range of ride-sharing options. Our city already embraces active travel in a unique way, and bringing electric scooters and bicycles to Canberra will further encourage active travel.
When introducing this legislation, the minister mentioned that e-scooters could be introduced as a zero emission transport option to help us reach the government’s zero emissions target. I would like to note that while the zero emissions target was announced many months ago, there has still been zero information from the government on how this will be achieved. Canberrans deserve answers sooner rather than later as to how these changes will affect their day-to-day lives and their back pocket. Nevertheless, the Canberra Liberals will be supporting this legislation today.
MR RATTENBURY (Kurrajong—Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability, Minister for Corrections and Justice Health, Minister for Justice, Consumer Affairs and Road Safety and Minister for Mental Health) (4.52): I thank Miss Burch for her comments today. As I mentioned when I presented this bill on 6 June, the bill makes a number of minor amendments to the territory’s road transport legislation to improve road safety and the administration and enforcement of the legislation.
The government is committed to developing a community that shares responsibility for road safety and the realisation of vision zero—a strategy to achieve zero road fatalities. Drivers who repeatedly drive while suspended will be subject to increased automatic disqualification periods. The reason for the disqualification will remain a relevant consideration. A driver who has been suspended for exceeding the applicable demerit point threshold will receive an automatic disqualification period of two months for a first offence of driving while suspended, which is a reduction in the current period. However, any subsequent offence will see the disqualification period increased to four months.
The ACT has adopted the safe system approach to road safety, which requires responsible road user behaviour. Strong enforcement actions are essential to reinforce safe driving behaviours on our roads. The bill also strengthens the territory’s drink and drug driving regime by clarifying existing provisions to ensure the effectiveness of the scheme and consistency with other jurisdictions. Appropriate enforcement of impaired driving offences is a matter of high importance to the community, given the associated risks of death and serious injury. Impaired driving is dangerous not only to members of the community but to the drivers themselves and their passengers. A moment’s reckless decision to drive while impaired can be the cause of a lifetime of suffering.
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