Page 3827 - Week 13 - Tuesday, 30 November 2021
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Historically and contemporarily, this view has been shared across the political spectrum. While the Greens have led these conversations in the public arena for some time, it was former Liberal Chief Minister Kate Carnell who was brave enough, and assured of her convictions enough, to campaign for safe, prescription-based heroin during the height of the heroin crisis. It is a disgrace that the politics of the far right have overtaken the Canberra Liberals such that they can no longer support evidence-based, small “l” liberal reforms such as this.
While some members of the police force have chosen to pursue a fear-based response to this reform, this is not the universal view of people who have worked in the police forces. Former Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police Mick Palmer understands it clearly. He said:
Our current use and possess illicit drug laws operate to criminalise a health problem, isolate and punish people who most need support and address only the symptoms while ignoring the causes.
As Commissioner Palmer argues, it is our responsibility to ensure that those who want help are able to receive it. I genuinely understand how complex and morally vexing this issue can be for people, and I empathise with those who are concerned about this debate. I am pleased that the community response to this committee inquiry has been overwhelmingly positive. The community survey undertaken by the committee during the inquiry found that, overwhelmingly, the community also takes a health-based approach to drug use, preferring people found in possession of drugs to be given referrals to support services over any form of punitive sanction.
Everybody who seeks assistance from an alcohol and other drug service should be able to get support. We heard overwhelming evidence from the drug and alcohol sector that current funding levels for these services need to significantly increase. Many of these organisations cited a review commissioned by the Australian government which found that, in order to meet demand for effective AOD interventions, funding needs to double.
The committee’s report acknowledges this need and calls on the government to significantly increase funding to the harm reduction, peer support and alcohol and other drug treatment sectors. This funding increase would allow the service sector to work in genuine collaboration with the government to develop and source innovative and effective interventions for people who use drugs. This work is an opportunity like never before to transform the way we respond to drug use in our community. I am proud to be a member of a party and a member of a committee that have chosen to support compassion, reason and understanding.
I would like to thank all of those who came before the committee to share their personal experiences or their professional expertise. I would particularly like to thank Chris from CAHMA, Bronwyn from Directions, Marion and Bill from Family and Friends for Drug Law Reform, Josh from Hepatitis ACT, Gino from Harm Reduction Australia, Gemma and Craig from ACTCOSS, Devin from ATODA, Anusha from Canberra Community Law, and Julie from Winnunga. Your significant contributions to our community are humbling.
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