10. Question No. 10—TransportCHRIS BISHOP (National—Hutt South) to the Associate Minister of TransportQuestion No. 10—Transport10. CHRIS BISHOP (National—Hutt South) to the Associate Minister of Transport: Does she stand by all her statements and policies on road safety?Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER (Associate Minister of Transport): Yes. In particular I stand by this Government's record investment in road safety which in just the past two years has already seen $470 million invested in targeted safety improvements to over 2500 kilometres of State highways. This is already twice what the last Government invested over a similar time frame and I'm happy to report that the New Zealand Transport Agency is on track to have invested close to $1 billion in safety upgrades by the middle of next year.Chris Bishop: Why as of 1 June 2020 have only 18 of the promised 198 kilometres of median barriers on State highways been completed?Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER: I think all of us would like to see many more median barriers rolled out certainly no one more than I. The New Zealand Transport Agency's progress on median barriers reflects that this safety programme is a step change compared to what they were doing under the last Government and that significant community consultation is required before installing median barriers. But I can reassure the members on the other side of the House that to speed up the delivery the New Zealand Transport Agency has simplified and standardised the planning process for median barriers which will shave nine to 12 months off their delivery.Hon Dr Nick Smith: Why has she failed to deliver on her press release last December that—and I quote—A bill to introduce random roadside drug testing will be introduced early in 2020 and prior to the referendum on recreational cannabis use."?Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER: I reject the premise of that question and I can assure the member that this Government will be making an announcement very soon.Hon Dr Nick Smith: Does she stand by her press statement dated 18 December—and I quote—"I … [will] introduce a bill to … Parliament early next year to enable oral fluid drug testing to begin in 2021."?Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER: I'm not sure if that member noticed but there was an entire shutdown for several months due to the COVID-19 pandemic and despite this the Government will be making an announcement on the introduction of that bill very soon.Hon Dr Nick Smith: How can she blame COVID for the delays in introducing legislation for random roadside drug testing when officials presented her with detailed proposals in November 2017?Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER: I understand that it might be hard for the member to understand this but for several months the entire Government was responding to a COVID-19 pandemic. We had the options we worked through and I'm sure he's going to be very happy to see the bill introduced to the House very soon.Michael Wood: Does she stand by her road safety policies which have led to a reduction in the road toll every year during which time she has been Minister following on from four consecutive years of increases before she was Minister?Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER: I can confirm that those numbers are correct. The number of deaths and serious injuries increased year on year from 2013 to 2017 under the last Government. They have reduced since then but I do think that the true benefits of our Road to Zero safety strategy and action plan which was supported by people right across the sector—local government police the Automobile Association and the Road Transport Association—will lead to a sustained reduction in deaths and serious injuries over the next 10 years. That's how long it takes to achieve that kind of outcome.Hon Dr Nick Smith: Does she stand by her statements on Radio New Zealand in February 2018 that random roadside saliva testing is "too intrusive" and "extremely expensive" when she rejected officials' proposals and is that the real reason why she has failed to introduce legislation as promised?Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER: No.Chris Bishop: Is it still Government policy to make 7500 kilometres of speed changes by 2021 when the Government has delivered just 56 kilometres or 0.74 percent of that target?Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER: If the member is suddenly expressing his support for huge sweeping changes to speeds on our network I would certainly support that. But what this Government has done and what we always said we would do is take a targeted approach to speed reductions. We have already consulted on 26 speed reviews and there will be more coming and I look forward to the member's support for that.Question time interrupted."