JOINT MEDIA RELEASE

Drugs of Dependence (Personal Use) Amendment Bill 2021 — new Assembly Select Committee

A new Assembly Select Committee has been formed to examine the Drugs of Dependence (Personal Use) Amendment Bill 2021 presented to the ACT Legislative Assembly by Mr Michael Petterson MLA.

The Bill and its Explanatory Statement can be found at : Drugs of Dependence (Personal Use) Amendment Bill 2021

The Bill seeks to amend provisions of the Drugs of Dependence Act 1989 to lower the penalty for simple drug offences (i.e. offences for possession of small quantities of particular drugs of dependence including MDMA, cocaine and heroin) and provides for simple drug offences to be treated in the same way in which simple cannabis offences are presently treated under the Drugs of Dependence Act 1989.

The Committee’s inquiry will include an examination of the Bill’s provisions as well as any other related matters, including:

  • best practice policy approaches and responses undertaken in other jurisdictions, including internationally, to reduce harm and societal impacts from drugs;
  • the health, criminal justice and social impacts of current policy and legislation approaches to drug use in the ACT (including the ACT government’s ACT Drug Strategy Action Plan 2018-2021);
  • the adequacy and implementation of the ACT government’s current funding commitments to support drug control and harm reduction;
  • opportunities and challenges for community-based and community-controlled organisations, programs and initiatives to reduce harm from drugs (for example a clinically supervised drug consumption site in the ACT);
  • issues specific to the drug rehabilitation and service sector (covering alcohol and other drug services) including the following:
    • identifying current strengths and weaknesses in the sector;
    • assessing current and future demands; and
    • recommending services, referral pathways and funding models that will better meet people’s needs;
  • the availability, access and implementation of best practice drug education material to enable and support prevention, early intervention, and community safety.

The Select Committee understands that some of the matters to be considered in its inquiry may also be relevant to the scope of activity of other Assembly Standing Committees concerned with health or justice matters.  However, under Assembly Standing Order 217 it is appropriate for the Select Committee to proceed with its inquiry and for a Standing Committee not to inquire into the same matters until the Select Committee has completed its inquiry.

The committee invites written submissions addressing any or all aspects of the bill. Submissions can be made by email to LASelectCommitteeDDAB2021@parliament.act.gov.au, with submissions closing at the end of Friday, 4 June 2021.

The terms of reference are available from the Committee’s webpage at: www.parliament.act.gov.au/parliamentary-business/in-committees/committees/select-committee-on-the-drugs-of-dependence-personal-use-amendment-bill-2021/inquiry-into-the-drugs-of-dependence-personal-use-amendment-bill-2021

25 March 2021

STATEMENT ENDS.

For further information in relation to the Select Committee on the Drugs of Dependence (Personal Use) Amendment Bill 2021, please contact:

Committee Chair, Mr Peter Cain MLA on (02) 6205 1927

Committee Secretary on (02) 6205 0129 or at LASelectCommitteeDDAB2021@parliament.act.gov.au

For further information in relation to the Standing Committee on Health and Community Wellbeing, please contact:

Committee Chair, Mr Jonathan Davis MLA on (02) 6205 0051

Committee Secretary on (02) 6205 0199 or at LACommitteeHCW@parliament.act.gov.au