Greens MP David Shoebridge recently launched a ‘impact’ campaign to get NSW Police thinking about why they care about charging people more than they care about getting drug drivers off the road.
But now, the MP has a related note to add to his campaign: why is ~the rich person’s drug~ AKA cocaine not tested for?
The German company Dräger that supplies NSW with the testing machines says it’s entirely possible to test for coke (and a bunch of other drergs), and they boast of the accuracy of such tests.
Shoebridge reckons the coppers are targeting people of certain social classes, and he’s not happy about it:
“At least part of the answer lies in the fact that cocaine is overwhelming used by those with higher incomes and higher socioeconomic status,”If [NSW Premier Mike] Baird extended the flawed roadside testing regime to cocaine he would get a lot of grief in the Liberal heartland of the eastern and northern suburbs of Sydney”.
According to SMH, cocaine is used 3 times more by the richest 1/5th of Australians, where as methamphetamines and amphetamines are favoured more by the poorest 1/5th of Australians.
Currently, Aussie police only do roadside tests test for cannabis, amphetamines, methamphetamine, and MDMA.
If you’d like to read more about David Shoebridge‘s roadside drug testing campaign, you can here: change.org/p/nsw-police-force-minister-for-police-stop-evidence-free-roadside-drug-testing#petition-letter
Source: SMH.
Photo: QLD Police.
