❓ Opposition questions the government's effectiveness in addressing synthetic cannabis issues, citing concerns raised by a Liberal Party member. The Minister defends the government's record on drug control and accuses the previous administration of weakening relevant laws.
AnsweredQoN 445Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
SYNTHETIC CANNABIS — LEGISLATION
445. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Minister for
Police:
I have a supplementary question. I
realise the minister is being coached, but let me ask a supplementary.
Mr
C.J. Barnett : That is patronising.
The
SPEAKER : Let us just try and answer the questions. Ask the questions,
answer the questions and move on. We have done two questions from the
opposition and one from the government in 20 minutes.
Mr
M. McGOWAN : If the minister believes that she has such a strong record, why
is her Liberal Party colleague, Hon Phil Edman, claiming it is still such a
significant issue in the suburbs two years after I first brought this to her
attention?
445. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Minister for
Police:
I have a supplementary question. I
realise the minister is being coached, but let me ask a supplementary.
Mr
C.J. Barnett : That is patronising.
The
SPEAKER : Let us just try and answer the questions. Ask the questions,
answer the questions and move on. We have done two questions from the
opposition and one from the government in 20 minutes.
Mr
M. McGOWAN : If the minister believes that she has such a strong record, why
is her Liberal Party colleague, Hon Phil Edman, claiming it is still such a
significant issue in the suburbs two years after I first brought this to her
attention?
AnswerView source ↗
It is a significant issue. As the
member for South Metropolitan Region, Hon Phil Edman is very proactive in his
local community. He is bringing these issues to the fore and he raises them
with me. As he gets this information he brings it to the attention of the
authorities as he is required and supposed to do. We have a strong record in
this government. Who was it that decriminalised marijuana? Which government
banned smoking implements? Who has the record here on fighting the scourge of
illegal drugs in the community?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : I
call the member for Midland to order for the second time.
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
We have worked on strengthening the legislation and the laws around illicit
drugs—laws that were weakened by the previous administration when it
was in government and led to anarchy in our suburbs.
Mr P. Papalia interjected.
The SPEAKER : I
call the member for Warnbro to order for the second time.
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
This government has been at the forefront in the synthetic cannabinoids and
psychoactive space; we will bring cutting-edge legislation forward and I expect
full support from those opposite, unlike what we had when we brought in
legislation to toughen up the penalties for people dealing in illicit drugs.
member for South Metropolitan Region, Hon Phil Edman is very proactive in his
local community. He is bringing these issues to the fore and he raises them
with me. As he gets this information he brings it to the attention of the
authorities as he is required and supposed to do. We have a strong record in
this government. Who was it that decriminalised marijuana? Which government
banned smoking implements? Who has the record here on fighting the scourge of
illegal drugs in the community?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : I
call the member for Midland to order for the second time.
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
We have worked on strengthening the legislation and the laws around illicit
drugs—laws that were weakened by the previous administration when it
was in government and led to anarchy in our suburbs.
Mr P. Papalia interjected.
The SPEAKER : I
call the member for Warnbro to order for the second time.
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
This government has been at the forefront in the synthetic cannabinoids and
psychoactive space; we will bring cutting-edge legislation forward and I expect
full support from those opposite, unlike what we had when we brought in
legislation to toughen up the penalties for people dealing in illicit drugs.
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