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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 8 Hansard (29 August) . . Page.. 2521 ..
MR MOORE (continuing):
In addition, the use of injectable anabolic steroids carries all the risks of injecting drug use, including transmission of blood-borne disease, although studies of users suggest that the prevalence of needle sharing is very low compared with other drug users. The sharing of vials and ampoules also poses risks of disease transmission.
The issues surrounding illicit use and abuse of anabolic steroids are currently under review by many bodies, including the Ministerial Council on Drug Strategy, the Intergovernmental Committee on Drugs, the National Expert Advisory Committee on Illicit Drugs, the Model Criminal Code Officers Committee, the Police Ministers Council and the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General.
Offences relating to the illegal supply of anabolic steroids apply in all states and territories. However, the penalties are different in each, ranging from six months imprisonment in the ACT to 25 years imprisonment in Western Australia. Recently, the Commonwealth enacted an amendment to the Customs Act 1901 so that the illegal importation of anabolic steroids carries a penalty of up to five years imprisonment. The five-year penalty applies to traffickers, with a fine applying to those carrying anabolic steroids for personal use only.
The territory has specific and excellent legislation relating to anabolic steroids. The Poisons and Drugs Act 1978 makes it an offence for a person, without reasonable excuse, to prescribe, dispense or sell anabolic steroids, including substandard and veterinary preparations, for human use. However, the penalty of imprisonment for six months for an offence in the territory is too low relative to other states and to the Commonwealth. Accordingly, this bill proposes an increase in penalty for the unauthorised supply of anabolic steroids in the territory from six months imprisonment to five years imprisonment and a commensurate increase in fine from $5,000 to $50,000. In addition, because the range of anabolic steroids available has grown rapidly in recent years, it is time to update the list of anabolic steroids in schedule 1 to the act in line with those listed in the current Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Drugs and Poisons.
Amending the act will ensure that the territory's poisons legislation, including the list of anabolic steroids in the act, is up to date prior to the 2000 Olympics. I commend the legislation to the Assembly.
Debate (on motion by Mr Corbell ) adjourned.
Mr Smyth , by leave, presented the bill and its explanatory memorandum.
Title read by Clerk.
MR SMYTH (Minister for Urban Services) (12.09): I move:
That this bill be agreed to in principle.
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