Drug Driving

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (15:20): Supplementary: does the minister agree that an 11 per cent reduction in the road fatality toll overseas would be an 11 per cent reduction in the road toll here, that is, fewer deaths by 11 per cent?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS (Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety) (15:20): I thank the honourable member for her question. I am not familiar with the study to which the honourable member refers, but I would suggest that it is possible that there are a number of things that are contributing to a reduction in the road toll. In South Australia, last year was the best year the state has ever had in terms of recording the road toll—the lowest we have had. I don't think that, in turn, means that we shouldn't be doing anything to reform drug driving laws—quite the opposite.

I think we have a collective objective of trying to get road deaths to the smallest number possible. We know that drug driving is contributing to road deaths in South Australia. It is a disproportionate number and a growing number, which stands in stark contrast to what we have achieved with respect to drink-driving. The study that the Hon. Ms Franks refers to seems to suggest, the way she is referring to it today, that somehow where there is wide consumption of medicinal cannabis, and in turn there has been a coinciding reduction in the road toll, there is somehow an empirical link between the two. I am happy to look at that.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: That's exactly right. I am happy to look at the study as I have committed to do, but that in and of itself doesn't necessarily mean that somehow what we are looking to do here is not the right way to go.