MEDIA RELEASE

Legislative Assembly Committee opens public survey on drugs of dependence

The Committee today announced a public survey for the Committee’s inquiry into the Drugs of Dependence (Personal Use) Amendment Bill 2021. The short survey includes questions about the harm associated with individual drugs and whether further funding in the ACT should focus on education, treatment, or law enforcement.

The Bill seeks to amend the Drugs of Dependence Act 1989 to lower the penalty for simple drug offences (i.e., the possession of small quantities of drugs such as MDMA, cocaine and heroin). It also provides for simple drug offences to be treated in the same way in which the Act treats simple cannabis offences.

The Committee is examining the Bill, policy best practice, the impacts of current ACT policy, and funding for drug control and harm reduction.

For further information, go to 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.

There are two ways to be involved: the survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/M5TMVPP; or sending a written submission to LASelectCommitteeDDAB2021@parliament.act.gov.au.

The Committee has extended the closing dates for both the survey and submissions to Friday, 11 June 2021.

20 May 2021

STATEMENT ENDS.

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

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