Page 3873 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 25 September 2019
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written material designed to inform the community about the legal and health risks and possible implications of the amendment act are notified to the Legislative Assembly and published. This process allows the Assembly to review the material and provides the community with clarity as to the issues and timing of the commencement. It is really important to be clear with people about the rule changes.
MR BARR (Kurrajong—Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Social Inclusion and Equality, Minister for Tertiary Education, Minister for Tourism and Special Events and Minister for Trade, Industry and Investment) (3.44): We are happy to support this amendment. I undertake that the government will provide high-level guidance on these matters by notifiable instrument, noting that the preferred and more effective method of communicating with the public about these changes will, of course, occur through channels beyond just notifiable instruments, which can be updated more readily than the legislation register. This means that the bill would not take effect until there is a definitive statement from the government on the legal and health risks that cannabis users may still be exposed to if they use cannabis.
MR HANSON (Murrumbidgee) (3.44): We will support this. It is necessary given the shemozzle and confusion. Perhaps in this material the two parties can work out whether you are legalising cannabis or not.
Proposed new clause 8A agreed to.
Proposed new clause 8B.
MR RATTENBURY (Kurrajong) (3.45): I move amendment No 6 circulated in my name, which inserts a new clause 8B [see schedule 2 at page 3924]. This amendment establishes a cannabis advisory council to advise the relevant minister on issues arising from the legislation about personal cannabis use in the ACT and other related matters. The council is proposed to provide expertise to government on new issues that emerge as changes to cannabis laws come into effect.
We propose that the council be made up of five to seven members chosen based on their expertise across drug and alcohol issues, law enforcement and mental health. Membership must also include someone with lived experience of the use of a drug of dependence.
The Assembly has seen similar bodies created under legislation over time, including in relation to medicinal cannabis. This is a really good opportunity to create a mechanism like this again. We are changing the law here; reservations about that have been expressed in this place. It is important that we continue to monitor this and make sure that there are not unforeseen consequences or that further amendments need to be made to ensure that the intent behind this legislation is delivered. This is about monitoring this important policy development and making sure that we have the best possible legislation we can.
The make-up of the proposed council ensures that a balanced and impartial view would be presented to both the minister and the Assembly and put the government in
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