CALL FOR RANDOM DRUG TESTING LEST PARLT 'FALL TO DAK AND RUIN'

New Zealand First MP Ron Mark is calling for random drug testing of
MPs and their staff after a second allegation of cannabis use by a
parliamentary staff member in a few months.

Temporary ACT press secretary Andy Gregory resigned suddenly this week
after a security guard smelled smoke coming from toilets in Bowen
House where ACT has its parliamentary offices.

Parliamentary Service general manager John O'Sullivan said there was
"prima facie" evidence that cannabis had been smoked.

Mr Gregory, a former spokesman for the Employers Federation and press
secretary to Mr Prebble when he was a cabinet minister, said a mistake
had been made and he had referred the matter to his lawyer.

Late last year National MP Gerry Brownlee reported Alliance press
secretary Steve Collet and a journalist to parliamentary security
guards after detecting a "particularly pungent odour" in Parliament's
debating chamber late one night.

An investigation by Speaker Jonathan Hunt found no evidence of
cannabis use, but Mr Hunt reprimanded Mr Collet for smoking a
cigarette in the chamber.

Mr Mark said that police and Defence Force personnel were subject to
drug testing and MPs should be subject to the same regime.

He asked Health Minister Annette King if she would move to implement
random drug testing for all members of Parliament and their staff "or
does she just believe we should go ahead and let Parliament fall to
dak and ruin".

Mrs King suggested that if MPs were to introduce any testing they
should start with "breathing in bags".

But she said it was a shame that Mr Prebble had not made it clear to
ACT's staff that smoking cannabis in the building was unacceptable. Mr
Prebble said Mr Gregory had quit to avoid any embarrassment to ACT,
but was disputing the allegation.