Top cop lukewarm on million test target

Police Minister Rob Johnson's target of a million roadside breath and drug tests from next year took a hit yesterday after he admitted he had not discussed the goal with Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan, who gave it only lukewarm support.

The Opposition also pointed out that the target would simply return the number of roadside tests to historical levels after Mr Johnson presided over a sharp drop.

There were 759,886 tests in his first year in office, compared with 978,724 in 2005-06.

It was incorrectly reported yesterday that Mr Johnson intended to more than triple the number of roadside tests carried out by booze and drug buses from about 300,000.

In fact, the target referred to the total number of roadside tests carried out by all police, which last financial year was 766,938. When asked if he had told Mr O'Callaghan of the pledge, Mr Johnson said: "I think the Commissioner is aware of the target. We liaise with police media all the time. They probably got that (the target) sometime last week."

Mr Johnson said the Government's decision to direct 100 per cent of speed and red light camera fines revenue into the Road Trauma Trust Fund from July would allow it to fund extra policing hours to meet the target.

He was confident a million tests could be carried out in the 12 months after two new booze and drug buses came into operation next year, bringing to five the number of buses at WA Police's disposal.

Mr O'Callaghan declined to say who told him of the target and when, saying only that he and Mr Johnson spoke regularly.

When asked if the target was realistic, he said: "The pledge is contingent on resourcing."

Shadow police minister Margaret Quirk said the Road Trauma Trust Fund should not be used to pay for core Government responsibilities such as paying police wages.

She described the million-test target as Government by headline.

"Under Rob Johnson's watch the number of random breath tests has gone down," Ms Quirk said.