Opposition Leader Michael O’Brien reveals three-point plan to help tackle Victoria’s road toll
First-time drug drivers cop substantially smaller fines than drink drivers — and the Coalition is demanding penalties are brought into line to help tackle Victoria’s shocking road toll.
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FIRST-time drug drivers cop substantially smaller fines than drink drivers — and the Coalition is demanding penalties are brought into line to help tackle Victoria’s shocking road toll.
Opposition Leader Michael O’Brien will today make his first major policy announcement since taking the top job, unveiling a three-point plan to combat drug driving and speeding.
The maximum fine for a first-time offender caught driving while drug-impaired would be increased from $1934 to $3223, bringing it level with the penalty for a first-time drink driver.
Drivers who fail a drug test would be fined as much as $967, up from $483.
The Sunday Herald Sun can reveal the Coalition also wants police to conduct an extra 1000 roadside drug tests every week.
The third reform would give the Road Safety Camera Commissioner a say in choosing sites for fixed-speed cameras to ensure they are focused on reducing road trauma instead of increasing revenue.
“We cannot and must not accept the high number of Victorians that are dying or injured on our roads,” Mr O’Brien told the Sunday Herald Sun.
Mr O’Brien will detail his plan at the Liberal state council meeting after president Robert Clark was re-elected with about two-thirds of the vote yesterday.
Mr O’Brien will focus on the road toll, which is at 148 so far this year — up from 96 at the same time last year.
“These aren’t just statistics. They are mums and dads, sons and daughters, and sisters and brothers who are not coming home to their families, leaving them with a lifetime of trauma,” he will say.
Mr O’Brien will say drug drivers “pose an enormous danger to themselves and to every other road user”, but that drug testing is “inadequate” and penalties are “significantly lighter than for drink drivers”.
“For every week the government delays taking action, there will be more unnecessary and preventable deaths,” he will say.
Party faithful heard yesterday 400 new members had signed up since Scott Morrison’s election victory, but 2100 people had not renewed their memberships as of last month.
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The party is more than $3 million in debt but will soon move to a new office in Collins St.
State director Simon Frost called for a “far more rigorous approach” to vetting candidates — after several dropped out of the election race over inappropriate social media posts — and a proper system for handling internal complaints.