MediNat Australia

What Are the Penalties for ‘Drugged Driving’ in Australia? Joe Wilson - Leafly Mobile drug testing, or MDT, is on the rise in Australia. Police in all states and territories can now require drivers to provide a saliva sample to be tested for cannabis and amphetamines. In the country’s most populous state, New South Wales, authorities boast that by 2017 there will be three times the number of tests on the state’s roads. At the same time, a number of “drugged driving” campaigns have drawn criticism and stoked confusion. To help clarify, this article sets out penalties that accompany a positive roadside drug test in various Australian states. Note that all penalties are for first-time offenses. State of Queensland (QLD) Police in Queensland are able to test drivers for cannabis in conjunction with so-called random breath testing (RBT) or as a standalone test. The presence of any cannabis whatsoever in a sample is an offense, carrying a maximum penalty of

Drug tests made mandatory for parents of at-risk kids, Opposition says policy ignores real issues By Matt Watson   Parents of at-risk children will face mandatory random drug testing under a new policy introduced by the Queensland Government, but the Opposition has said the policy misses the mark. Child Safety Minister Shannon Fentiman said the drug crystal meth, or ice, was putting too many children at risk. She said parents who entered into an intervention with parental agreement (IPA) would be forced to undergo mandatory drug testing. Under the IPAs, parents developed a safety plan with child safety officers, Ms Fentiman said. "This is a zero-tolerance measure that puts the safety of children first and foremost," she said. "If the information suggests there is ice use and the children are unsafe, we will remove the children. "It will be up to the discretion of the child safety officer and it will depend on whether or not there's a his

Hazy Drug Driving Advice On Australian Roads                                   HuffPost Australia  |  By Eoin Blackwel Very interesting article by Eoin Blackwell as follows: If you’re a little dazed and confused about Random Drug Testing on Australia's roadsides, it’s probably not just because of what you’re smoking. RDTs are being rolled out across the country at an increasing rate, with as many as 200,000 drivers to be tested in Victoria and 100,000 in NSW by 2017. Prompted by a recent NSW court case, where a Lismore man was acquitted after being pinged nine days after having cannabis , The Huffington Post Australia decided to investigate the state of play in each state. Cannabis is, af

New drug and alcohol tests for building sites In an attempt to improve workplace safety standards on construction sites, the Federal Government has announced plans to introduce compulsory drug and alcohol testing on building sites. Mr Abetz on Friday introduced amendments to the Building Code to improve workplace safety standards on construction sites. Fair Work Building and Construction will be responsible for auditing contractors to ensure they have a fitness for work policy in place within 28 days. "It is essential that workers on construction sites do not present a risk to themselves, their co-workers, and the public by having drugs and alcohol in their systems," Senator Abetz said. "Safety is a paramount consideration on construction sites. It is simply an unacceptable risk to the health and safety of employees and the public to have workers affected by drugs or alcohol on construction sites." For further information and to access th

An article written by Georgina Bartter   - Daily Mail see article here Introduces the issue! 'Way too good, the best I've had in years': How users rated Ecstasy pills known as 'The Speaker' before the drug caused the death of teenager Georgina Bartter at a dance party  Georgina Bartter, 19, died from a suspected ecstasy overdose  She collapsed at one of the summer season's first dance parties, Harbourlife, in Sydney An MP has warned Australia's summer of music festivals could prove 'lethal' for young people. The Greens David Shoebridge says police sniffer dogs don't stop drug trade Mr Shoebridge, a critic of sniffer dogs, says their use may lead to deaths because people swallow drugs to avoid detection. He proposes no fault drug tests at festivals measure strength of ecstasy and other drugs But NSW Police drug squad boss Tony Cooke says sniffer dogs reduce drug taking Superintendent Cooke has slammed 'money hung