Hon Simon O'Brien questions the Labor Government's stance on cannabis decriminalisation, alleging conflicting statements between the Minister and the Premier. The Minister's response is dismissive and avoids directly addressing the core issues raised.

AnsweredQoN 1126Legislative Council
Asked
12 March 2002
Portfolio
Health

QuestionView source ↗

CANNABIS, GOVERNMENT’S POLICY
In response to recommendation 39 of the Community Drug Summit, the Government clearly restated its intention to decriminalise cannabis and extend a cautioning system to repeat offenders who were cultivating up to two plants. The response further stated that a drug law reform ministerial working party would report to Cabinet on how that would be done. However, on Monday, 11 March 2002, the minister claimed the Government had no firm intentions and that the working party would recommend what the government policy should be, not how it should be implemented. (1) Has the Labor Government changed its stance on this issue? (2) If so, who will tell the Premier, because he claims that Labor’s policy has always been clear? (3) If not, why did the minister attempt to mislead the public on Monday, 11 March 2002? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice of this question. Is he Cheech or Chong? (1) No. (2)-(3) Not applicable. Hon Simon O’Brien: You can’t say no or not applicable to all the questions. Someone is telling porkies. Is it your minister or is it the Premier? The PRESIDENT: Order, members! Other members want to use their right to ask questions.
(1) Has the Labor Government changed its stance on this issue? (2) If so, who will tell the Premier, because he claims that Labor’s policy has always been clear? (3) If not, why did the minister attempt to mislead the public on Monday, 11 March 2002? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. Is he Cheech or Chong? (1) No. (2)-(3) Not applicable. Hon Simon O’Brien: You can’t say no or not applicable to all the questions. Someone is telling porkies. Is it your minister or is it the Premier? The PRESIDENT: Order, members! Other members want to use their right to ask questions.
(2) If so, who will tell the Premier, because he claims that Labor’s policy has always been clear? (3) If not, why did the minister attempt to mislead the public on Monday, 11 March 2002? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. Is he Cheech or Chong? (1) No. (2)-(3) Not applicable. Hon Simon O’Brien: You can’t say no or not applicable to all the questions. Someone is telling porkies. Is it your minister or is it the Premier? The PRESIDENT: Order, members! Other members want to use their right to ask questions.
(3) If not, why did the minister attempt to mislead the public on Monday, 11 March 2002? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. Is he Cheech or Chong? (1) No. (2)-(3) Not applicable. Hon Simon O’Brien: You can’t say no or not applicable to all the questions. Someone is telling porkies. Is it your minister or is it the Premier? The PRESIDENT: Order, members! Other members want to use their right to ask questions.
Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. Is he Cheech or Chong? (1) No. (2)-(3) Not applicable. Hon Simon O’Brien: You can’t say no or not applicable to all the questions. Someone is telling porkies. Is it your minister or is it the Premier? The PRESIDENT: Order, members! Other members want to use their right to ask questions.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. Is he Cheech or Chong? (1) No. (2)-(3) Not applicable. Hon Simon O’Brien: You can’t say no or not applicable to all the questions. Someone is telling porkies. Is it your minister or is it the Premier? The PRESIDENT: Order, members! Other members want to use their right to ask questions.
(1) No. (2)-(3) Not applicable. Hon Simon O’Brien: You can’t say no or not applicable to all the questions. Someone is telling porkies. Is it your minister or is it the Premier? The PRESIDENT: Order, members! Other members want to use their right to ask questions.
(2)-(3) Not applicable. Hon Simon O’Brien: You can’t say no or not applicable to all the questions. Someone is telling porkies. Is it your minister or is it the Premier? The PRESIDENT: Order, members! Other members want to use their right to ask questions.
Hon Simon O’Brien: You can’t say no or not applicable to all the questions. Someone is telling porkies. Is it your minister or is it the Premier? The PRESIDENT: Order, members! Other members want to use their right to ask questions.
The PRESIDENT: Order, members! Other members want to use their right to ask questions.

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