Uffindell SamSAM UFFINDELL (National—Tauranga): Thank you Mr Speaker. I rise to speak in favour of the Land Transport (Drug Driving) Amendment Bill at the first reading. It's good to see other parties around the House—specifically ACT and New Zealand First. And the Labour Party thank you for your support in this as well. Look this bill addresses issues that we have on New Zealand roads with drug drivers.I was reading before coming in here that in the Bay of Plenty from 2018 to 2023 there were 45 fatal crashes involving drugs on our roads. I can see Mr Rutherford in front of me rightfully shaking his head because that is totally unacceptable. That's 45 lives gone and families tipped upside down because people have decided to get in their cars while high or under the influence of drugs which has been a contributor towards their crash.Look I do note that the previous Government brought in legislation several years ago to help address this. It has been discussed how the evidentiary standards didn't mean that it could actually be practically applied and this bill will address that.This bill amends the Land Transport Act 1998 and enables random oral fluid screening. It introduces new device approval which is crucial and will enable police to have the tools that they need to stop drivers and to test them for drugs at the roadside. And yeah I hear there have been concerns. There were concerns around oral testing which is why there are two tests at the roadside. If the first test is positive then you will undergo a second test. If that is also positive you will not be allowed to drive for 12 hours. You will then submit another test which will go off to a laboratory and if that comes back positive then you will be given an infringement notice and demerit points and the full weight of the law and whatever punishment comes down on you from there. You will also be issued an infringement notice and demerit points if you refuse to participate in a roadside drugs test.But for too long drug drivers have put others at risk with very limited enforcement in New Zealand. This brings us into line with Australian legislation which uses oral testing over there. And look it's about time. It's well overdue. We note significant loss of life due to alcohol and drink driving on our roads. Drug driving is also very serious. No one wants to have their life or their family's lives tipped upside down because someone recklessly or selfishly took drugs got into a motor vehicle lost control of their vehicle and caused the loss of life or severe injury to an innocent person who frankly was just going about their daily business. That is an absolute tragedy.And I look back and I remember late last year there was a report of a crash on Hewletts Road in Mount Maunganui involving a car and a truck. It was late at night and one person died in this event. It eventuated—and it was due to go to court early last month—that one of those people is being charged with manslaughter and for drug driving. And you have to wonder when you look at Hewletts Road how you could have such a crash on such a road. And the only reason you could do it is if you're totally oblivious. And the only way you'd get to that state would be if you were highly distracted or most likely drink driving or in this case drug driving. That was a totally avoidable situation. And it's been noted by other members of this House and I want to mention the Hon Matt Doocey for his first contribution here Tom Rutherford and also Tim van de Molen who I thought spoke incredibly well earlier today.Look we have said quite clearly that this isn't going to stop people taking drugs and driving in New Zealand. But what it will do is actually say New Zealand thinks it's totally unacceptable that you take drugs and drive. If you go and do that now you cannot just go and do it without any fear of being pulled up. You may be stopped you may be tested and if you are then the weight of the law will come down upon you." We are very serious about making sure that our roads are safe. We are very serious about giving police the tools and the powers that they need to enforce this. This is a very good bill. I am very supportive of it and I wish the select committee all the best going forward. I commend it to the House."