Page 4562 - Week 15 - Tuesday, 6 December 1994
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MS FOLLETT: There are many of us who had enormous compassion for the writer of that letter and her mother, but the issues she raised were of even greater concern to me. A further issue that was not canvassed in that letter was the question of what other drugs, if any, that patient was taking and what the interaction was between those drugs and cannabis. I do not know. I do not think that is a matter for legislators to know. I think that is a matter for a clinical trial to establish. It is a matter on which there must be the most cautious approach. Even some drugs which of themselves are relatively benign can react very badly with other substances. Aspro is a case in point, as are simple antibiotics or alcohol. In combination, benign drugs can have very serious effects. That is a matter that needs to be addressed if we are to look at the reasonable wider use of cannabis in our community.
I would urge members to rescind clause 5. I do not believe that it can be amended. I know that Mrs Carnell is intending to move an amendment, which has only just this moment been brought to the Government's attention. Having looked very briefly at Mrs Carnell's proposed amendment, all I can say is that it is a face-saver, nothing more; but it seems to me to be no better thought out than was the Liberals' original decision to vote for Mr Moore's amendment.
MR MOORE (3.50): I have ensured that my amendment to Mrs Carnell's proposed amendment has been circulated so that members can see the intention. One of the reasons that Mr Connolly's nose is itchy, along with those of many of his counterparts in the Federal Government, such as the Minister for Health, is that as part of creating an impression that things were terribly wrong the word came from Carmen Lawrence's office that there may well have been - - -
Mr Berry: Madam Speaker, there was a clear imputation again on the nose. There was another imputation that the Minister was lying. That has to be withdrawn by Mr Moore.
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Moore, I did ask you no longer to refer to Mr Connolly's nose. Would you please withdraw that?
MR MOORE: Madam Speaker, on the contrary, it was not Mr Connolly's nose you asked me not to refer to; you asked me not to refer to the fact that Mr Connolly's nose is growing.
MADAM SPEAKER: I am now asking you not to refer to it in any way. You are clearly drawing an imputation from a common health - - -
MR MOORE: Madam Speaker, I just do not accept that. I said that Mr Connolly has an itchy nose. That clearly is - - -
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Moore, I ask you to conduct yourself with your normal restraint, good humour and sense.
MR MOORE: It is good humour, Madam Speaker, to talk about someone with an itchy nose.
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