❓ The question raises concerns about the link between cannabis use and youth suicide, challenging the Minister to reconcile her stance on decriminalisation with her concern for youth well-being. The Minister acknowledges the research but firmly states cannabis will remain unlawful, accusing the opposition of misrepresentation.
AnsweredQoN 650Legislative Assembly
Asked
16 April 2003
Member
Portfolio
Community Development, Women’s Interests, Seniors and Youth
QuestionView source ↗
I refer the minister to her maiden speech in this House, in which she outlined in some detail the plight of young people and the frighteningly high level of youth suicide in this State. (1) Is the minister aware of the findings of Professor Sven Silburn of the TVW Telethon Institute for Child Health Research and a member of the youth suicide advisory council, that smoking marijuana more than 50 times a year could double the chances of youths committing suicide and that cannabis independently accounts for a sizeable proportion of all suicide attempts? (2) How does the minister, given her ministerial responsibilities, reconcile her obvious concern for the levels of youth suicide with her support for the decriminalisation of cannabis? Ms S.M. McHALE
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) I am aware of the research, as the Minister for Health has referred to it in the debate. Let me make very clear that cannabis use is unlawful and it will remain unlawful. As members on this side of the House have been saying, only members opposite are perpetrating the untruth that cannabis will be lawful. Cannabis is unlawful and will remain so. In my inaugural speech I referred to youth suicide. As a parent and a member of Parliament, I was very concerned about the issues relating to the alienation of youth in our society. We cannot deal with social ills in an atmosphere of fear in which people do not reach out for help. Members on the other side of the House do not like the fact that we on this side of the House are confronting difficult social issues. They have tried to attack the curfew issue. The Premier and the Minister for Health are showing leadership in proposing a piece of legislation that will enable young people - Several members interjected. Ms S.M. McHALE: If members opposite ask a question they should listen to the answer. A raft of issues relate to suicide; we know that alcohol is one and mental health is another. Members opposite should not knock this Government for confronting social issues when we have the guts to take on these social issues and deliver a good social policy.
(1) Is the minister aware of the findings of Professor Sven Silburn of the TVW Telethon Institute for Child Health Research and a member of the youth suicide advisory council, that smoking marijuana more than 50 times a year could double the chances of youths committing suicide and that cannabis independently accounts for a sizeable proportion of all suicide attempts? (2) How does the minister, given her ministerial responsibilities, reconcile her obvious concern for the levels of youth suicide with her support for the decriminalisation of cannabis? Ms S.M. McHALE replied: (1)-(2) I am aware of the research, as the Minister for Health has referred to it in the debate. Let me make very clear that cannabis use is unlawful and it will remain unlawful. As members on this side of the House have been saying, only members opposite are perpetrating the untruth that cannabis will be lawful. Cannabis is unlawful and will remain so. In my inaugural speech I referred to youth suicide. As a parent and a member of Parliament, I was very concerned about the issues relating to the alienation of youth in our society. We cannot deal with social ills in an atmosphere of fear in which people do not reach out for help. Members on the other side of the House do not like the fact that we on this side of the House are confronting difficult social issues. They have tried to attack the curfew issue. The Premier and the Minister for Health are showing leadership in proposing a piece of legislation that will enable young people - Several members interjected. Ms S.M. McHALE: If members opposite ask a question they should listen to the answer. A raft of issues relate to suicide; we know that alcohol is one and mental health is another. Members opposite should not knock this Government for confronting social issues when we have the guts to take on these social issues and deliver a good social policy.
(2) How does the minister, given her ministerial responsibilities, reconcile her obvious concern for the levels of youth suicide with her support for the decriminalisation of cannabis? Ms S.M. McHALE replied: (1)-(2) I am aware of the research, as the Minister for Health has referred to it in the debate. Let me make very clear that cannabis use is unlawful and it will remain unlawful. As members on this side of the House have been saying, only members opposite are perpetrating the untruth that cannabis will be lawful. Cannabis is unlawful and will remain so. In my inaugural speech I referred to youth suicide. As a parent and a member of Parliament, I was very concerned about the issues relating to the alienation of youth in our society. We cannot deal with social ills in an atmosphere of fear in which people do not reach out for help. Members on the other side of the House do not like the fact that we on this side of the House are confronting difficult social issues. They have tried to attack the curfew issue. The Premier and the Minister for Health are showing leadership in proposing a piece of legislation that will enable young people - Several members interjected. Ms S.M. McHALE: If members opposite ask a question they should listen to the answer. A raft of issues relate to suicide; we know that alcohol is one and mental health is another. Members opposite should not knock this Government for confronting social issues when we have the guts to take on these social issues and deliver a good social policy.
Ms S.M. McHALE replied: (1)-(2) I am aware of the research, as the Minister for Health has referred to it in the debate. Let me make very clear that cannabis use is unlawful and it will remain unlawful. As members on this side of the House have been saying, only members opposite are perpetrating the untruth that cannabis will be lawful. Cannabis is unlawful and will remain so. In my inaugural speech I referred to youth suicide. As a parent and a member of Parliament, I was very concerned about the issues relating to the alienation of youth in our society. We cannot deal with social ills in an atmosphere of fear in which people do not reach out for help. Members on the other side of the House do not like the fact that we on this side of the House are confronting difficult social issues. They have tried to attack the curfew issue. The Premier and the Minister for Health are showing leadership in proposing a piece of legislation that will enable young people - Several members interjected. Ms S.M. McHALE: If members opposite ask a question they should listen to the answer. A raft of issues relate to suicide; we know that alcohol is one and mental health is another. Members opposite should not knock this Government for confronting social issues when we have the guts to take on these social issues and deliver a good social policy.
(1)-(2) I am aware of the research, as the Minister for Health has referred to it in the debate. Let me make very clear that cannabis use is unlawful and it will remain unlawful. As members on this side of the House have been saying, only members opposite are perpetrating the untruth that cannabis will be lawful. Cannabis is unlawful and will remain so. In my inaugural speech I referred to youth suicide. As a parent and a member of Parliament, I was very concerned about the issues relating to the alienation of youth in our society. We cannot deal with social ills in an atmosphere of fear in which people do not reach out for help. Members on the other side of the House do not like the fact that we on this side of the House are confronting difficult social issues. They have tried to attack the curfew issue. The Premier and the Minister for Health are showing leadership in proposing a piece of legislation that will enable young people - Several members interjected. Ms S.M. McHALE: If members opposite ask a question they should listen to the answer. A raft of issues relate to suicide; we know that alcohol is one and mental health is another. Members opposite should not knock this Government for confronting social issues when we have the guts to take on these social issues and deliver a good social policy.
Several members interjected. Ms S.M. McHALE: If members opposite ask a question they should listen to the answer. A raft of issues relate to suicide; we know that alcohol is one and mental health is another. Members opposite should not knock this Government for confronting social issues when we have the guts to take on these social issues and deliver a good social policy.
Ms S.M. McHALE: If members opposite ask a question they should listen to the answer. A raft of issues relate to suicide; we know that alcohol is one and mental health is another. Members opposite should not knock this Government for confronting social issues when we have the guts to take on these social issues and deliver a good social policy.
(1) Is the minister aware of the findings of Professor Sven Silburn of the TVW Telethon Institute for Child Health Research and a member of the youth suicide advisory council, that smoking marijuana more than 50 times a year could double the chances of youths committing suicide and that cannabis independently accounts for a sizeable proportion of all suicide attempts? (2) How does the minister, given her ministerial responsibilities, reconcile her obvious concern for the levels of youth suicide with her support for the decriminalisation of cannabis? Ms S.M. McHALE replied: (1)-(2) I am aware of the research, as the Minister for Health has referred to it in the debate. Let me make very clear that cannabis use is unlawful and it will remain unlawful. As members on this side of the House have been saying, only members opposite are perpetrating the untruth that cannabis will be lawful. Cannabis is unlawful and will remain so. In my inaugural speech I referred to youth suicide. As a parent and a member of Parliament, I was very concerned about the issues relating to the alienation of youth in our society. We cannot deal with social ills in an atmosphere of fear in which people do not reach out for help. Members on the other side of the House do not like the fact that we on this side of the House are confronting difficult social issues. They have tried to attack the curfew issue. The Premier and the Minister for Health are showing leadership in proposing a piece of legislation that will enable young people - Several members interjected. Ms S.M. McHALE: If members opposite ask a question they should listen to the answer. A raft of issues relate to suicide; we know that alcohol is one and mental health is another. Members opposite should not knock this Government for confronting social issues when we have the guts to take on these social issues and deliver a good social policy.
(2) How does the minister, given her ministerial responsibilities, reconcile her obvious concern for the levels of youth suicide with her support for the decriminalisation of cannabis? Ms S.M. McHALE replied: (1)-(2) I am aware of the research, as the Minister for Health has referred to it in the debate. Let me make very clear that cannabis use is unlawful and it will remain unlawful. As members on this side of the House have been saying, only members opposite are perpetrating the untruth that cannabis will be lawful. Cannabis is unlawful and will remain so. In my inaugural speech I referred to youth suicide. As a parent and a member of Parliament, I was very concerned about the issues relating to the alienation of youth in our society. We cannot deal with social ills in an atmosphere of fear in which people do not reach out for help. Members on the other side of the House do not like the fact that we on this side of the House are confronting difficult social issues. They have tried to attack the curfew issue. The Premier and the Minister for Health are showing leadership in proposing a piece of legislation that will enable young people - Several members interjected. Ms S.M. McHALE: If members opposite ask a question they should listen to the answer. A raft of issues relate to suicide; we know that alcohol is one and mental health is another. Members opposite should not knock this Government for confronting social issues when we have the guts to take on these social issues and deliver a good social policy.
Ms S.M. McHALE replied: (1)-(2) I am aware of the research, as the Minister for Health has referred to it in the debate. Let me make very clear that cannabis use is unlawful and it will remain unlawful. As members on this side of the House have been saying, only members opposite are perpetrating the untruth that cannabis will be lawful. Cannabis is unlawful and will remain so. In my inaugural speech I referred to youth suicide. As a parent and a member of Parliament, I was very concerned about the issues relating to the alienation of youth in our society. We cannot deal with social ills in an atmosphere of fear in which people do not reach out for help. Members on the other side of the House do not like the fact that we on this side of the House are confronting difficult social issues. They have tried to attack the curfew issue. The Premier and the Minister for Health are showing leadership in proposing a piece of legislation that will enable young people - Several members interjected. Ms S.M. McHALE: If members opposite ask a question they should listen to the answer. A raft of issues relate to suicide; we know that alcohol is one and mental health is another. Members opposite should not knock this Government for confronting social issues when we have the guts to take on these social issues and deliver a good social policy.
(1)-(2) I am aware of the research, as the Minister for Health has referred to it in the debate. Let me make very clear that cannabis use is unlawful and it will remain unlawful. As members on this side of the House have been saying, only members opposite are perpetrating the untruth that cannabis will be lawful. Cannabis is unlawful and will remain so. In my inaugural speech I referred to youth suicide. As a parent and a member of Parliament, I was very concerned about the issues relating to the alienation of youth in our society. We cannot deal with social ills in an atmosphere of fear in which people do not reach out for help. Members on the other side of the House do not like the fact that we on this side of the House are confronting difficult social issues. They have tried to attack the curfew issue. The Premier and the Minister for Health are showing leadership in proposing a piece of legislation that will enable young people - Several members interjected. Ms S.M. McHALE: If members opposite ask a question they should listen to the answer. A raft of issues relate to suicide; we know that alcohol is one and mental health is another. Members opposite should not knock this Government for confronting social issues when we have the guts to take on these social issues and deliver a good social policy.
Several members interjected. Ms S.M. McHALE: If members opposite ask a question they should listen to the answer. A raft of issues relate to suicide; we know that alcohol is one and mental health is another. Members opposite should not knock this Government for confronting social issues when we have the guts to take on these social issues and deliver a good social policy.
Ms S.M. McHALE: If members opposite ask a question they should listen to the answer. A raft of issues relate to suicide; we know that alcohol is one and mental health is another. Members opposite should not knock this Government for confronting social issues when we have the guts to take on these social issues and deliver a good social policy.
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