Page 3825 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 25 September 2019
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the police, our courts and other agencies to be focused where they are most needed. That has been the government’s starting point for considering this private member’s bill—to achieve further sensible drug law reform in the territory where possible.
Before I continue with my remarks on the detail, I wish to acknowledge the very thoughtful input and advice from the Standing Committee on Health, Ageing and Community Services inquiry into the private member’s bill. I also thank the many individuals and organisations who gave their time to engage on the broader issues and the specific detail of the bill.
In addition to the government’s engagement with the standing committee’s inquiry, 36 other submissions were received from individuals or organisations, many of whom appeared in person to answer questions and to share their experiences and views. These included ACT Policing, the AFP Association, the ACT Law Society, Canberra Community Law, Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services, the Australian Medical Association, the National Drug Research Institute, and Families and Friends for Drug Law Reform, to name some of the participants.
This has been a great example of what is possible when diverse perspectives and expertise are brought together in a spirit of reform and goodwill. One thing that has been consistent throughout these discussions is that this is a complex issue, without any one right or wrong answer. But that alone is not a reason to do nothing.
There is a difference between supporting sensible drug reform and condoning drug use, and I want to make that very clear this morning. Drugs such as cannabis can present risks to people’s physical and mental health, and can result in users finding themselves in dangerous or ill-advised situations which would not have occurred without drugs.
That message has been delivered to young people and to the broader community for quite some time. Adults know drugs can be bad for them, yet decisions are made to take drugs regardless. The Minister for Health has observed that around eight per cent of Canberrans report having used cannabis in the last 12 months—less than was the case several decades ago. The prohibition approach to drug laws has not stopped, and will not stop, the use of drugs in our community. In that context, governments have a responsibility to focus on minimising the harm that drugs can cause in our community.
Here in the ACT we have a long and proud history of taking progressive steps and trying new ideas to reduce harm. We were one of the first jurisdictions in Australia to decriminalise the personal possession of small amounts of cannabis, and our more recent work with event promoters to pilot pill testing at music festivals shows our ongoing commitment to reducing drug harm instead of burying our heads in the sand about the fact that it is happening.
We believe that taking further steps to reform the ACT’s laws on cannabis can help to address a number of harms. In particular, the stigma and risk of punishment associated with illegal drug use likely means that there are people who are not seeking medical or other types of help when they need it. Removing penalties for the use and
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