Time to sweat – crackdown on impaired drivers

Drink and drug drivers are on notice the McGowan Government's tough new penalties for impaired driving come into effect as of July 1.

From this date, for the first time, drivers caught with both alcohol and drugs in their system will be charged with the new offence of driving with a blood alcohol content of or above a particular level with a prescribed illicit drug in oral fluid or blood.

Western Australia is only the third State to introduce a specific 'poly' offence for driving while affected by a combination of alcohol and drugs.

A driver who records a blood alcohol reading in excess of 0.05 and tests positive to drugs will have their licence disqualified for a minimum of three months and face a or saliva sample for testing will more than double.

The increase in penalties reflects the seriousness of driving while affected by drugs or alcohol.

Last year there were 42 road fatalities where alcohol was suspected to be a factor.

The Road Safety Commission has developed a road safety campaign to educate the community on the new impaired driving offences and penalties which will run State-wide on TV, radio, and digital platforms from tonight.

Police and Road Safety Minister Paul Papalia said, "Impaired driving is a major contributor to road trauma in Western Australia. "We are determined to take dangerous S outh Korean company POSCO's has made a decision to invest $US240 million in a 30 per cent stake in First Quantum Minerals' Ravensthorpe nickel mine.

First Quantum Minerals will retain a 70 per cent interest and continue as operator.

POSCO's long-term offtake agreement for 7,500 tonnes of nickel in mixed nickel-cobalt hydroxide precipitate per year from Ravensthorpe, starting in 2024, will help underpin its secondary battery material business.

The companies have also entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to explore producing materials, such as nickel sulphate, which is used to manufacture cathodes in lithiumion batteries.

This decision builds on POSCO's existing investments in Western Australia's battery minerals industry including its offtake with Pilbara Minerals' Pilgangoora project.

It is expected that global demand for lithium-ion batteries will increase tenfold by 2030, primarily driven by uptake in electric vehicles.

Western Australian and international companies are progressing plans to further process lithium and nickel locally to produce lithium hydroxide and nickel sulphate.

The Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation is engaging with global precursor manufacturers in key markets on this potential investment opportunity.

maximum fine of $1,900 for a first offence.

Repeat offenders could face a mandatory licence disqualification for life and fine of up to $11,250 for driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

Penalties for existing, stand-alone drink and drug driving offences will increase by a minimum of 1.5 times the current penalty.

The penalty for refusing to comply with a direction from police to provide a breath drivers off our roads and make our roads safer for all road users. "We have invested significantly in increased enforcement and now we are introducing these tougher penalties. "It should send a clear message to the community about the seriousness and the risk to all road users when you get behind the wheel under the influence of alcohol and drugs."