8. Road Safety—Priorities and Roadside Saliva TestingCHRIS BISHOP (National—Hutt South) to the Associate Minister of TransportRoad Safety—Priorities and Roadside Saliva Testing8. CHRIS BISHOP (National—Hutt South) to the Associate Minister of Transport: Does she stand by all her statements?Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER (Associate Minister of Transport): Tēnā koe Mr Speaker. Yes I do.Chris Bishop: Why does she stand by her statement on Radio New Zealand National this morning that I have some concerns [about] … roadside saliva testing" when the New Zealand Transport Agency's official advice to her says drug-driving is a significant problem and recommends the Government introduce roadside testing?Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER: Tēnā koe Mr Speaker. Can I start my answer by saying that there's no question that if someone is impaired whether that's because of alcohol prescription medication or recreational drugs they should not be behind the wheel of a vehicle. I've asked the Ministry of Transport—it's not the New Zealand Transport Agency but the Ministry of Transport who's given me advice—to develop a whole new road safety strategy that will look at the most effective way of dealing with a range of issues that make our roads unsafe including impaired driving. The advice I've received so far does indicate that there are issues with roadside saliva testing.Chris Bishop: Why does she stand by her statement on Radio New Zealand National this morning that "I have some concerns [about] … roadside saliva testing" when a ministerial colleague Stuart Nash has said "We should be looking at it" and "I think it has got to be rushed out"?Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER: In fact those statements are not mutually exclusive. I have concerns about it and we are looking into it. We need more evidence if we're going to be sure that we are spending money in the most effective way to deal with the problems that are caused by impairment. Alastair Scott: Why does she stand by her statement that "We already have an extremely effective impairment test" when official advice to her from the New Zealand Transport Agency says "The threshold to warrant a drug test is high." and "This approach"—the current approach—"delivers far too few tests to be effective in deterring drug-impaired driving."? Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER: I think that the members might be confused about what evidence they're referring to or the advice that's been given to me by the New Zealand Transport Agency because I haven't received any evidence or advice from the New Zealand Transport Agency on this issue. What I can say is that there are issues with roadside saliva testing and yet currently the police have an impairment test that is over 90 percent effective. Gareth Hughes: Thank you Mr Speaker. Does she stand by her statement that road safety will be her number one priority in the transport portfolio?Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER: Thank you Mr Speaker. I do indeed stand by that statement that road safety is a major priority and we have a very large work programme. We will be assembling all of the evidence. We'll be speaking to all of the stakeholders including the police the Minister of Police and the other parties in the coalition Government but our decisions about improving road safety are going to be driven by evidence about the most effective use of police resources to address the risks on the road. Alastair Scott: Given the comments that have been made by the New Zealand Police will she support my Land Transport (Random Oral Fluid Testing) Amendment Bill at least to a first reading so that this important issue can be discussed and debated at select committee?Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER: Thank you Mr Speaker. We'll be making our decision based on evidence and we'll be looking into it. Gareth Hughes: Supplementary.SPEAKER: No we'll keep going with Alastair Scott until he's finished. Alastair Scott: I seek leave to introduce the Land Transport (Random Oral Fluid Testing) Amendment Bill a member's bill in my name and for the bill to be set down as members' order of the day No. 1.SPEAKER: Is there any objection? Yes there is. It will not be—[Interruption] Order!Gareth Hughes: How many other jurisdictions conduct roadside saliva testing?Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER: Thank you Mr Speaker. Only two jurisdictions currently conduct roadside saliva testing and what we know about roadside saliva testing is that it's unable to test for a wide variety of substances that may cause impairment. Also it costs significantly more than alcohol testing does—$30 to $40 per test as opposed to several cents per alcohol screening. So there are issues around it. It may not be the most effective use of money. I know that the Opposition was never in favour of using policies that were the most effective use of money but that's what this Government's going to do."