Chairman: The next item on our agenda is a discussion with Mr. David Stanley of Convenience Advertising, Australia. He will address the committee on the issue of roadside drug testing in Australia. I draw his attention to the fact that members of the committee have absolute privilege, but this same privilege does not apply to witnesses appearing before the committee. Members are reminded of the parliamentary practice that members should not comment on, criticise, or make charges against any person outside the Houses or an official, either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. I thank Mr. Stanley for the DVDs and information booklets he has supplied to the committee. Unfortunately, there are not enough for every committee member, so we will try to have them copied and distributed to the members.

Mr. David Stanley: I thank the Chairman and the committee members for the opportunity to present some information on Victoria's programme of random roadside saliva testing for illicit drugs. I have discussed the supply of extra copies with the clerk and the committee will receive them in about a week.

In 2003, Victoria's road toll was the lowest since records started in 1951, yet 330 people were killed on our roads. As we all know, one life lost is one too many. Community measures to reduce the road toll were, and are still, an imperative in Victoria, as they are in Ireland. To further reduce the road toll, in 2004, a trial was legislated for to introduce random roadside saliva testing for THC, Delta 9 — THC is the active component in cannabis — and methamphetamine, commonly known in Australia as speed. As we all know, drug driving seriously increases the risk of being involved in a crash. In 2003, 31% of drivers killed in Victoria tested positive for illicit drugs...

[For the full debate, click on this link to the Oireachtas website]