❓ Mr. Barnett questions Premier Gallop on the reconciliation of WA's cannabis policy with SA's experience. Premier Gallop defends his government's approach, asserting it's superior and aligned with SA's framework, accusing the opposition of spreading misinformation.
AnsweredQoN 600Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CANNABIS LAWS, RELAXATION
Is the Premier aware that the South Australian Deputy Premier this week announced the tightening of drug laws in that State, including the amendment of regulations requiring offenders caught with two or more cannabis plants to face the full force of the law? The Deputy Premier of South Australia said that that was on the basis that it recognised the increase in criminal activity as a direct result of the illicit drug trade. How does the Premier reconcile his stance that Labor’s policy will not lead to an increased supply of cannabis in the community with the South Australian experience in which relaxed cannabis laws have resulted in an increase in the supply and use of cannabis and an increase in organised and other crimes on people and property? Dr GALLOP
Is the Premier aware that the South Australian Deputy Premier this week announced the tightening of drug laws in that State, including the amendment of regulations requiring offenders caught with two or more cannabis plants to face the full force of the law? The Deputy Premier of South Australia said that that was on the basis that it recognised the increase in criminal activity as a direct result of the illicit drug trade. How does the Premier reconcile his stance that Labor’s policy will not lead to an increased supply of cannabis in the community with the South Australian experience in which relaxed cannabis laws have resulted in an increase in the supply and use of cannabis and an increase in organised and other crimes on people and property? Dr GALLOP
AnswerView source ↗
I saw that news report last night but I did not hear that the South Australian Government was going to change the framework within which it looks at these matters. Is that correct? In other words, the South Australian Government will maintain its position, which is the position that this Government is moving towards. Under that framework, cannabis will remain illegal and civil penalties will be handed out to small-time users. If people trade in cannabis they will still be subject to the full force of the criminal law under the heading of drug trafficking. I am getting a bit sick and tired of the Leader of the Opposition spreading misinformation in the community about the Government’s position. In fact, by raising this question today, he confirms that the South Australian Government is adopting the framework approach that this Government intends to adopt to deal with this issue. Cannabis will remain illegal and civil penalties will apply. Evidence shows that that will not increase the availability of cannabis but will create a better framework within which to start to tackle drug use in our community. If people engage in drug trafficking in our community, they will be faced with the full force of the law. The Government’s position is clear. It is a much better position for dealing with a social problem in the community than the position taken by the previous Government. It is so much better that even the South Australian Government will not move back to the position currently pursued by the Opposition in Western Australia.
Dr GALLOP replied: I saw that news report last night but I did not hear that the South Australian Government was going to change the framework within which it looks at these matters. Is that correct? In other words, the South Australian Government will maintain its position, which is the position that this Government is moving towards. Under that framework, cannabis will remain illegal and civil penalties will be handed out to small-time users. If people trade in cannabis they will still be subject to the full force of the criminal law under the heading of drug trafficking. I am getting a bit sick and tired of the Leader of the Opposition spreading misinformation in the community about the Government’s position. In fact, by raising this question today, he confirms that the South Australian Government is adopting the framework approach that this Government intends to adopt to deal with this issue. Cannabis will remain illegal and civil penalties will apply. Evidence shows that that will not increase the availability of cannabis but will create a better framework within which to start to tackle drug use in our community. If people engage in drug trafficking in our community, they will be faced with the full force of the law. The Government’s position is clear. It is a much better position for dealing with a social problem in the community than the position taken by the previous Government. It is so much better that even the South Australian Government will not move back to the position currently pursued by the Opposition in Western Australia.
I saw that news report last night but I did not hear that the South Australian Government was going to change the framework within which it looks at these matters. Is that correct? In other words, the South Australian Government will maintain its position, which is the position that this Government is moving towards. Under that framework, cannabis will remain illegal and civil penalties will be handed out to small-time users. If people trade in cannabis they will still be subject to the full force of the criminal law under the heading of drug trafficking. I am getting a bit sick and tired of the Leader of the Opposition spreading misinformation in the community about the Government’s position. In fact, by raising this question today, he confirms that the South Australian Government is adopting the framework approach that this Government intends to adopt to deal with this issue. Cannabis will remain illegal and civil penalties will apply. Evidence shows that that will not increase the availability of cannabis but will create a better framework within which to start to tackle drug use in our community. If people engage in drug trafficking in our community, they will be faced with the full force of the law. The Government’s position is clear. It is a much better position for dealing with a social problem in the community than the position taken by the previous Government. It is so much better that even the South Australian Government will not move back to the position currently pursued by the Opposition in Western Australia.
Dr GALLOP replied: I saw that news report last night but I did not hear that the South Australian Government was going to change the framework within which it looks at these matters. Is that correct? In other words, the South Australian Government will maintain its position, which is the position that this Government is moving towards. Under that framework, cannabis will remain illegal and civil penalties will be handed out to small-time users. If people trade in cannabis they will still be subject to the full force of the criminal law under the heading of drug trafficking. I am getting a bit sick and tired of the Leader of the Opposition spreading misinformation in the community about the Government’s position. In fact, by raising this question today, he confirms that the South Australian Government is adopting the framework approach that this Government intends to adopt to deal with this issue. Cannabis will remain illegal and civil penalties will apply. Evidence shows that that will not increase the availability of cannabis but will create a better framework within which to start to tackle drug use in our community. If people engage in drug trafficking in our community, they will be faced with the full force of the law. The Government’s position is clear. It is a much better position for dealing with a social problem in the community than the position taken by the previous Government. It is so much better that even the South Australian Government will not move back to the position currently pursued by the Opposition in Western Australia.
I saw that news report last night but I did not hear that the South Australian Government was going to change the framework within which it looks at these matters. Is that correct? In other words, the South Australian Government will maintain its position, which is the position that this Government is moving towards. Under that framework, cannabis will remain illegal and civil penalties will be handed out to small-time users. If people trade in cannabis they will still be subject to the full force of the criminal law under the heading of drug trafficking. I am getting a bit sick and tired of the Leader of the Opposition spreading misinformation in the community about the Government’s position. In fact, by raising this question today, he confirms that the South Australian Government is adopting the framework approach that this Government intends to adopt to deal with this issue. Cannabis will remain illegal and civil penalties will apply. Evidence shows that that will not increase the availability of cannabis but will create a better framework within which to start to tackle drug use in our community. If people engage in drug trafficking in our community, they will be faced with the full force of the law. The Government’s position is clear. It is a much better position for dealing with a social problem in the community than the position taken by the previous Government. It is so much better that even the South Australian Government will not move back to the position currently pursued by the Opposition in Western Australia.
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