❓ Mr. Barnett questions Premier Gallop on the decriminalization of cannabis possession, raising concerns about the amount allowed and the message it sends to young people. Premier Gallop defends the policy as a new approach to address drug problems, contrasting it with the previous government's record.
AnsweredQoN 574Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CANNABIS, POSSESSION
I refer the Premier to his announcement today that the Labor Government, as part of its response to the Community Drug Summit, will decriminalise possession of cannabis for amounts up to 25 grams and no more than two plants. I ask - (1) Is the Premier aware that 25 grams of cannabis is equivalent to at least 25 joints, and that two plants can produce two kilograms of cannabis in six weeks with a street value of $24 000? (2) How can the Premier refer to someone possessing this amount of cannabis as a “small-time user”? (3) Will the Premier agree that the Government is sending the wrong signal to the community - particularly young Western Australians - about the acceptability of drug use? Dr GALLOP
I refer the Premier to his announcement today that the Labor Government, as part of its response to the Community Drug Summit, will decriminalise possession of cannabis for amounts up to 25 grams and no more than two plants. I ask - (1) Is the Premier aware that 25 grams of cannabis is equivalent to at least 25 joints, and that two plants can produce two kilograms of cannabis in six weeks with a street value of $24 000? (2) How can the Premier refer to someone possessing this amount of cannabis as a “small-time user”? (3) Will the Premier agree that the Government is sending the wrong signal to the community - particularly young Western Australians - about the acceptability of drug use? Dr GALLOP
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(3) The Labor Party went to the recent election with a very clear commitment to change the State’s approach to resolving its drug problems. I remind the Leader of the Opposition and those sitting around him of the performance of his Government in this area. Mr Day: It was much better than yours. Dr GALLOP: I remind the Parliament that the Task Force on Drug Abuse reported in 1995 that Western Australia had one of the lowest levels of use of illicit drugs such as heroin and cocaine. Its recent report indicated that Western Australia now has the second-highest rate of illicit drug use in Australia, and that Australia has one of the highest rates in the world. We set up the Drug Summit to get new ideas to address this problem. Today’s Government is not prejudiced in these matters. It wants improvement and results. It also wants to see fewer young Western Australians caught up in a system that leads to despair and, in some cases, the criminal underworld and untimely deaths. We need a new approach to this issue. I thought that the Opposition would have respected the findings of that summit. We have taken on board the findings of the summit and accepted all of them, bar one. Yet, all the Opposition has put forward is an ideological knee-jerk reaction. We do not hear a serious analysis of the issues. In the Parliament today the Leader of the Opposition repeated misinformation on the Government’s position. Under our regime, cannabis will remain illegal, but small-time users will receive civil penalties. We have simply continued and developed the system of cannabis cautioning established by the Court Government. This Opposition has its head in the sand with a range of issues affecting Western Australia. This Government has a new, fresh approach that will deliver results. We do not want to see many thousands of young Western Australians caught up in the criminal system and affected by that for the rest of their lives. We want those young Western Australians directed into educational programs and cautioned about their behaviour. That is a much better approach that will produce results. The Leader of the Opposition has decided to convert the Liberal Party of Western Australia into a conservative right-wing rump of the National Party. As we saw in the weekend by-election, the National Party is outdoing the Liberal Party. The Leader of the Opposition is reducing his party to an irrelevant rump that is not addressing real issues. This Government puts people, solutions and results over and above ideological knee-jerk reactions.
(1) Is the Premier aware that 25 grams of cannabis is equivalent to at least 25 joints, and that two plants can produce two kilograms of cannabis in six weeks with a street value of $24 000? (2) How can the Premier refer to someone possessing this amount of cannabis as a “small-time user”? (3) Will the Premier agree that the Government is sending the wrong signal to the community - particularly young Western Australians - about the acceptability of drug use? Dr GALLOP replied: (1)-(3) The Labor Party went to the recent election with a very clear commitment to change the State’s approach to resolving its drug problems. I remind the Leader of the Opposition and those sitting around him of the performance of his Government in this area. Mr Day: It was much better than yours. Dr GALLOP: I remind the Parliament that the Task Force on Drug Abuse reported in 1995 that Western Australia had one of the lowest levels of use of illicit drugs such as heroin and cocaine. Its recent report indicated that Western Australia now has the second-highest rate of illicit drug use in Australia, and that Australia has one of the highest rates in the world. We set up the Drug Summit to get new ideas to address this problem. Today’s Government is not prejudiced in these matters. It wants improvement and results. It also wants to see fewer young Western Australians caught up in a system that leads to despair and, in some cases, the criminal underworld and untimely deaths. We need a new approach to this issue. I thought that the Opposition would have respected the findings of that summit. We have taken on board the findings of the summit and accepted all of them, bar one. Yet, all the Opposition has put forward is an ideological knee-jerk reaction. We do not hear a serious analysis of the issues. In the Parliament today the Leader of the Opposition repeated misinformation on the Government’s position. Under our regime, cannabis will remain illegal, but small-time users will receive civil penalties. We have simply continued and developed the system of cannabis cautioning established by the Court Government. This Opposition has its head in the sand with a range of issues affecting Western Australia. This Government has a new, fresh approach that will deliver results. We do not want to see many thousands of young Western Australians caught up in the criminal system and affected by that for the rest of their lives. We want those young Western Australians directed into educational programs and cautioned about their behaviour. That is a much better approach that will produce results. The Leader of the Opposition has decided to convert the Liberal Party of Western Australia into a conservative right-wing rump of the National Party. As we saw in the weekend by-election, the National Party is outdoing the Liberal Party. The Leader of the Opposition is reducing his party to an irrelevant rump that is not addressing real issues. This Government puts people, solutions and results over and above ideological knee-jerk reactions.
(2) How can the Premier refer to someone possessing this amount of cannabis as a “small-time user”? (3) Will the Premier agree that the Government is sending the wrong signal to the community - particularly young Western Australians - about the acceptability of drug use? Dr GALLOP replied: (1)-(3) The Labor Party went to the recent election with a very clear commitment to change the State’s approach to resolving its drug problems. I remind the Leader of the Opposition and those sitting around him of the performance of his Government in this area. Mr Day: It was much better than yours. Dr GALLOP: I remind the Parliament that the Task Force on Drug Abuse reported in 1995 that Western Australia had one of the lowest levels of use of illicit drugs such as heroin and cocaine. Its recent report indicated that Western Australia now has the second-highest rate of illicit drug use in Australia, and that Australia has one of the highest rates in the world. We set up the Drug Summit to get new ideas to address this problem. Today’s Government is not prejudiced in these matters. It wants improvement and results. It also wants to see fewer young Western Australians caught up in a system that leads to despair and, in some cases, the criminal underworld and untimely deaths. We need a new approach to this issue. I thought that the Opposition would have respected the findings of that summit. We have taken on board the findings of the summit and accepted all of them, bar one. Yet, all the Opposition has put forward is an ideological knee-jerk reaction. We do not hear a serious analysis of the issues. In the Parliament today the Leader of the Opposition repeated misinformation on the Government’s position. Under our regime, cannabis will remain illegal, but small-time users will receive civil penalties. We have simply continued and developed the system of cannabis cautioning established by the Court Government. This Opposition has its head in the sand with a range of issues affecting Western Australia. This Government has a new, fresh approach that will deliver results. We do not want to see many thousands of young Western Australians caught up in the criminal system and affected by that for the rest of their lives. We want those young Western Australians directed into educational programs and cautioned about their behaviour. That is a much better approach that will produce results. The Leader of the Opposition has decided to convert the Liberal Party of Western Australia into a conservative right-wing rump of the National Party. As we saw in the weekend by-election, the National Party is outdoing the Liberal Party. The Leader of the Opposition is reducing his party to an irrelevant rump that is not addressing real issues. This Government puts people, solutions and results over and above ideological knee-jerk reactions.
(3) Will the Premier agree that the Government is sending the wrong signal to the community - particularly young Western Australians - about the acceptability of drug use? Dr GALLOP replied: (1)-(3) The Labor Party went to the recent election with a very clear commitment to change the State’s approach to resolving its drug problems. I remind the Leader of the Opposition and those sitting around him of the performance of his Government in this area. Mr Day: It was much better than yours. Dr GALLOP: I remind the Parliament that the Task Force on Drug Abuse reported in 1995 that Western Australia had one of the lowest levels of use of illicit drugs such as heroin and cocaine. Its recent report indicated that Western Australia now has the second-highest rate of illicit drug use in Australia, and that Australia has one of the highest rates in the world. We set up the Drug Summit to get new ideas to address this problem. Today’s Government is not prejudiced in these matters. It wants improvement and results. It also wants to see fewer young Western Australians caught up in a system that leads to despair and, in some cases, the criminal underworld and untimely deaths. We need a new approach to this issue. I thought that the Opposition would have respected the findings of that summit. We have taken on board the findings of the summit and accepted all of them, bar one. Yet, all the Opposition has put forward is an ideological knee-jerk reaction. We do not hear a serious analysis of the issues. In the Parliament today the Leader of the Opposition repeated misinformation on the Government’s position. Under our regime, cannabis will remain illegal, but small-time users will receive civil penalties. We have simply continued and developed the system of cannabis cautioning established by the Court Government. This Opposition has its head in the sand with a range of issues affecting Western Australia. This Government has a new, fresh approach that will deliver results. We do not want to see many thousands of young Western Australians caught up in the criminal system and affected by that for the rest of their lives. We want those young Western Australians directed into educational programs and cautioned about their behaviour. That is a much better approach that will produce results. The Leader of the Opposition has decided to convert the Liberal Party of Western Australia into a conservative right-wing rump of the National Party. As we saw in the weekend by-election, the National Party is outdoing the Liberal Party. The Leader of the Opposition is reducing his party to an irrelevant rump that is not addressing real issues. This Government puts people, solutions and results over and above ideological knee-jerk reactions.
Dr GALLOP replied: (1)-(3) The Labor Party went to the recent election with a very clear commitment to change the State’s approach to resolving its drug problems. I remind the Leader of the Opposition and those sitting around him of the performance of his Government in this area. Mr Day: It was much better than yours. Dr GALLOP: I remind the Parliament that the Task Force on Drug Abuse reported in 1995 that Western Australia had one of the lowest levels of use of illicit drugs such as heroin and cocaine. Its recent report indicated that Western Australia now has the second-highest rate of illicit drug use in Australia, and that Australia has one of the highest rates in the world. We set up the Drug Summit to get new ideas to address this problem. Today’s Government is not prejudiced in these matters. It wants improvement and results. It also wants to see fewer young Western Australians caught up in a system that leads to despair and, in some cases, the criminal underworld and untimely deaths. We need a new approach to this issue. I thought that the Opposition would have respected the findings of that summit. We have taken on board the findings of the summit and accepted all of them, bar one. Yet, all the Opposition has put forward is an ideological knee-jerk reaction. We do not hear a serious analysis of the issues. In the Parliament today the Leader of the Opposition repeated misinformation on the Government’s position. Under our regime, cannabis will remain illegal, but small-time users will receive civil penalties. We have simply continued and developed the system of cannabis cautioning established by the Court Government. This Opposition has its head in the sand with a range of issues affecting Western Australia. This Government has a new, fresh approach that will deliver results. We do not want to see many thousands of young Western Australians caught up in the criminal system and affected by that for the rest of their lives. We want those young Western Australians directed into educational programs and cautioned about their behaviour. That is a much better approach that will produce results. The Leader of the Opposition has decided to convert the Liberal Party of Western Australia into a conservative right-wing rump of the National Party. As we saw in the weekend by-election, the National Party is outdoing the Liberal Party. The Leader of the Opposition is reducing his party to an irrelevant rump that is not addressing real issues. This Government puts people, solutions and results over and above ideological knee-jerk reactions.
(1)-(3) The Labor Party went to the recent election with a very clear commitment to change the State’s approach to resolving its drug problems. I remind the Leader of the Opposition and those sitting around him of the performance of his Government in this area. Mr Day: It was much better than yours. Dr GALLOP: I remind the Parliament that the Task Force on Drug Abuse reported in 1995 that Western Australia had one of the lowest levels of use of illicit drugs such as heroin and cocaine. Its recent report indicated that Western Australia now has the second-highest rate of illicit drug use in Australia, and that Australia has one of the highest rates in the world. We set up the Drug Summit to get new ideas to address this problem. Today’s Government is not prejudiced in these matters. It wants improvement and results. It also wants to see fewer young Western Australians caught up in a system that leads to despair and, in some cases, the criminal underworld and untimely deaths. We need a new approach to this issue. I thought that the Opposition would have respected the findings of that summit. We have taken on board the findings of the summit and accepted all of them, bar one. Yet, all the Opposition has put forward is an ideological knee-jerk reaction. We do not hear a serious analysis of the issues. In the Parliament today the Leader of the Opposition repeated misinformation on the Government’s position. Under our regime, cannabis will remain illegal, but small-time users will receive civil penalties. We have simply continued and developed the system of cannabis cautioning established by the Court Government. This Opposition has its head in the sand with a range of issues affecting Western Australia. This Government has a new, fresh approach that will deliver results. We do not want to see many thousands of young Western Australians caught up in the criminal system and affected by that for the rest of their lives. We want those young Western Australians directed into educational programs and cautioned about their behaviour. That is a much better approach that will produce results. The Leader of the Opposition has decided to convert the Liberal Party of Western Australia into a conservative right-wing rump of the National Party. As we saw in the weekend by-election, the National Party is outdoing the Liberal Party. The Leader of the Opposition is reducing his party to an irrelevant rump that is not addressing real issues. This Government puts people, solutions and results over and above ideological knee-jerk reactions.
Mr Day: It was much better than yours. Dr GALLOP: I remind the Parliament that the Task Force on Drug Abuse reported in 1995 that Western Australia had one of the lowest levels of use of illicit drugs such as heroin and cocaine. Its recent report indicated that Western Australia now has the second-highest rate of illicit drug use in Australia, and that Australia has one of the highest rates in the world. We set up the Drug Summit to get new ideas to address this problem. Today’s Government is not prejudiced in these matters. It wants improvement and results. It also wants to see fewer young Western Australians caught up in a system that leads to despair and, in some cases, the criminal underworld and untimely deaths. We need a new approach to this issue. I thought that the Opposition would have respected the findings of that summit. We have taken on board the findings of the summit and accepted all of them, bar one. Yet, all the Opposition has put forward is an ideological knee-jerk reaction. We do not hear a serious analysis of the issues. In the Parliament today the Leader of the Opposition repeated misinformation on the Government’s position. Under our regime, cannabis will remain illegal, but small-time users will receive civil penalties. We have simply continued and developed the system of cannabis cautioning established by the Court Government. This Opposition has its head in the sand with a range of issues affecting Western Australia. This Government has a new, fresh approach that will deliver results. We do not want to see many thousands of young Western Australians caught up in the criminal system and affected by that for the rest of their lives. We want those young Western Australians directed into educational programs and cautioned about their behaviour. That is a much better approach that will produce results. The Leader of the Opposition has decided to convert the Liberal Party of Western Australia into a conservative right-wing rump of the National Party. As we saw in the weekend by-election, the National Party is outdoing the Liberal Party. The Leader of the Opposition is reducing his party to an irrelevant rump that is not addressing real issues. This Government puts people, solutions and results over and above ideological knee-jerk reactions.
Dr GALLOP: I remind the Parliament that the Task Force on Drug Abuse reported in 1995 that Western Australia had one of the lowest levels of use of illicit drugs such as heroin and cocaine. Its recent report indicated that Western Australia now has the second-highest rate of illicit drug use in Australia, and that Australia has one of the highest rates in the world. We set up the Drug Summit to get new ideas to address this problem. Today’s Government is not prejudiced in these matters. It wants improvement and results. It also wants to see fewer young Western Australians caught up in a system that leads to despair and, in some cases, the criminal underworld and untimely deaths. We need a new approach to this issue. I thought that the Opposition would have respected the findings of that summit. We have taken on board the findings of the summit and accepted all of them, bar one. Yet, all the Opposition has put forward is an ideological knee-jerk reaction. We do not hear a serious analysis of the issues. In the Parliament today the Leader of the Opposition repeated misinformation on the Government’s position. Under our regime, cannabis will remain illegal, but small-time users will receive civil penalties. We have simply continued and developed the system of cannabis cautioning established by the Court Government. This Opposition has its head in the sand with a range of issues affecting Western Australia. This Government has a new, fresh approach that will deliver results. We do not want to see many thousands of young Western Australians caught up in the criminal system and affected by that for the rest of their lives. We want those young Western Australians directed into educational programs and cautioned about their behaviour. That is a much better approach that will produce results. The Leader of the Opposition has decided to convert the Liberal Party of Western Australia into a conservative right-wing rump of the National Party. As we saw in the weekend by-election, the National Party is outdoing the Liberal Party. The Leader of the Opposition is reducing his party to an irrelevant rump that is not addressing real issues. This Government puts people, solutions and results over and above ideological knee-jerk reactions.
I thought that the Opposition would have respected the findings of that summit. We have taken on board the findings of the summit and accepted all of them, bar one. Yet, all the Opposition has put forward is an ideological knee-jerk reaction. We do not hear a serious analysis of the issues. In the Parliament today the Leader of the Opposition repeated misinformation on the Government’s position. Under our regime, cannabis will remain illegal, but small-time users will receive civil penalties. We have simply continued and developed the system of cannabis cautioning established by the Court Government. This Opposition has its head in the sand with a range of issues affecting Western Australia. This Government has a new, fresh approach that will deliver results. We do not want to see many thousands of young Western Australians caught up in the criminal system and affected by that for the rest of their lives. We want those young Western Australians directed into educational programs and cautioned about their behaviour. That is a much better approach that will produce results. The Leader of the Opposition has decided to convert the Liberal Party of Western Australia into a conservative right-wing rump of the National Party. As we saw in the weekend by-election, the National Party is outdoing the Liberal Party. The Leader of the Opposition is reducing his party to an irrelevant rump that is not addressing real issues. This Government puts people, solutions and results over and above ideological knee-jerk reactions.
The Leader of the Opposition has decided to convert the Liberal Party of Western Australia into a conservative right-wing rump of the National Party. As we saw in the weekend by-election, the National Party is outdoing the Liberal Party. The Leader of the Opposition is reducing his party to an irrelevant rump that is not addressing real issues. This Government puts people, solutions and results over and above ideological knee-jerk reactions.
(1) Is the Premier aware that 25 grams of cannabis is equivalent to at least 25 joints, and that two plants can produce two kilograms of cannabis in six weeks with a street value of $24 000? (2) How can the Premier refer to someone possessing this amount of cannabis as a “small-time user”? (3) Will the Premier agree that the Government is sending the wrong signal to the community - particularly young Western Australians - about the acceptability of drug use? Dr GALLOP replied: (1)-(3) The Labor Party went to the recent election with a very clear commitment to change the State’s approach to resolving its drug problems. I remind the Leader of the Opposition and those sitting around him of the performance of his Government in this area. Mr Day: It was much better than yours. Dr GALLOP: I remind the Parliament that the Task Force on Drug Abuse reported in 1995 that Western Australia had one of the lowest levels of use of illicit drugs such as heroin and cocaine. Its recent report indicated that Western Australia now has the second-highest rate of illicit drug use in Australia, and that Australia has one of the highest rates in the world. We set up the Drug Summit to get new ideas to address this problem. Today’s Government is not prejudiced in these matters. It wants improvement and results. It also wants to see fewer young Western Australians caught up in a system that leads to despair and, in some cases, the criminal underworld and untimely deaths. We need a new approach to this issue. I thought that the Opposition would have respected the findings of that summit. We have taken on board the findings of the summit and accepted all of them, bar one. Yet, all the Opposition has put forward is an ideological knee-jerk reaction. We do not hear a serious analysis of the issues. In the Parliament today the Leader of the Opposition repeated misinformation on the Government’s position. Under our regime, cannabis will remain illegal, but small-time users will receive civil penalties. We have simply continued and developed the system of cannabis cautioning established by the Court Government. This Opposition has its head in the sand with a range of issues affecting Western Australia. This Government has a new, fresh approach that will deliver results. We do not want to see many thousands of young Western Australians caught up in the criminal system and affected by that for the rest of their lives. We want those young Western Australians directed into educational programs and cautioned about their behaviour. That is a much better approach that will produce results. The Leader of the Opposition has decided to convert the Liberal Party of Western Australia into a conservative right-wing rump of the National Party. As we saw in the weekend by-election, the National Party is outdoing the Liberal Party. The Leader of the Opposition is reducing his party to an irrelevant rump that is not addressing real issues. This Government puts people, solutions and results over and above ideological knee-jerk reactions.
(2) How can the Premier refer to someone possessing this amount of cannabis as a “small-time user”? (3) Will the Premier agree that the Government is sending the wrong signal to the community - particularly young Western Australians - about the acceptability of drug use? Dr GALLOP replied: (1)-(3) The Labor Party went to the recent election with a very clear commitment to change the State’s approach to resolving its drug problems. I remind the Leader of the Opposition and those sitting around him of the performance of his Government in this area. Mr Day: It was much better than yours. Dr GALLOP: I remind the Parliament that the Task Force on Drug Abuse reported in 1995 that Western Australia had one of the lowest levels of use of illicit drugs such as heroin and cocaine. Its recent report indicated that Western Australia now has the second-highest rate of illicit drug use in Australia, and that Australia has one of the highest rates in the world. We set up the Drug Summit to get new ideas to address this problem. Today’s Government is not prejudiced in these matters. It wants improvement and results. It also wants to see fewer young Western Australians caught up in a system that leads to despair and, in some cases, the criminal underworld and untimely deaths. We need a new approach to this issue. I thought that the Opposition would have respected the findings of that summit. We have taken on board the findings of the summit and accepted all of them, bar one. Yet, all the Opposition has put forward is an ideological knee-jerk reaction. We do not hear a serious analysis of the issues. In the Parliament today the Leader of the Opposition repeated misinformation on the Government’s position. Under our regime, cannabis will remain illegal, but small-time users will receive civil penalties. We have simply continued and developed the system of cannabis cautioning established by the Court Government. This Opposition has its head in the sand with a range of issues affecting Western Australia. This Government has a new, fresh approach that will deliver results. We do not want to see many thousands of young Western Australians caught up in the criminal system and affected by that for the rest of their lives. We want those young Western Australians directed into educational programs and cautioned about their behaviour. That is a much better approach that will produce results. The Leader of the Opposition has decided to convert the Liberal Party of Western Australia into a conservative right-wing rump of the National Party. As we saw in the weekend by-election, the National Party is outdoing the Liberal Party. The Leader of the Opposition is reducing his party to an irrelevant rump that is not addressing real issues. This Government puts people, solutions and results over and above ideological knee-jerk reactions.
(3) Will the Premier agree that the Government is sending the wrong signal to the community - particularly young Western Australians - about the acceptability of drug use? Dr GALLOP replied: (1)-(3) The Labor Party went to the recent election with a very clear commitment to change the State’s approach to resolving its drug problems. I remind the Leader of the Opposition and those sitting around him of the performance of his Government in this area. Mr Day: It was much better than yours. Dr GALLOP: I remind the Parliament that the Task Force on Drug Abuse reported in 1995 that Western Australia had one of the lowest levels of use of illicit drugs such as heroin and cocaine. Its recent report indicated that Western Australia now has the second-highest rate of illicit drug use in Australia, and that Australia has one of the highest rates in the world. We set up the Drug Summit to get new ideas to address this problem. Today’s Government is not prejudiced in these matters. It wants improvement and results. It also wants to see fewer young Western Australians caught up in a system that leads to despair and, in some cases, the criminal underworld and untimely deaths. We need a new approach to this issue. I thought that the Opposition would have respected the findings of that summit. We have taken on board the findings of the summit and accepted all of them, bar one. Yet, all the Opposition has put forward is an ideological knee-jerk reaction. We do not hear a serious analysis of the issues. In the Parliament today the Leader of the Opposition repeated misinformation on the Government’s position. Under our regime, cannabis will remain illegal, but small-time users will receive civil penalties. We have simply continued and developed the system of cannabis cautioning established by the Court Government. This Opposition has its head in the sand with a range of issues affecting Western Australia. This Government has a new, fresh approach that will deliver results. We do not want to see many thousands of young Western Australians caught up in the criminal system and affected by that for the rest of their lives. We want those young Western Australians directed into educational programs and cautioned about their behaviour. That is a much better approach that will produce results. The Leader of the Opposition has decided to convert the Liberal Party of Western Australia into a conservative right-wing rump of the National Party. As we saw in the weekend by-election, the National Party is outdoing the Liberal Party. The Leader of the Opposition is reducing his party to an irrelevant rump that is not addressing real issues. This Government puts people, solutions and results over and above ideological knee-jerk reactions.
Dr GALLOP replied: (1)-(3) The Labor Party went to the recent election with a very clear commitment to change the State’s approach to resolving its drug problems. I remind the Leader of the Opposition and those sitting around him of the performance of his Government in this area. Mr Day: It was much better than yours. Dr GALLOP: I remind the Parliament that the Task Force on Drug Abuse reported in 1995 that Western Australia had one of the lowest levels of use of illicit drugs such as heroin and cocaine. Its recent report indicated that Western Australia now has the second-highest rate of illicit drug use in Australia, and that Australia has one of the highest rates in the world. We set up the Drug Summit to get new ideas to address this problem. Today’s Government is not prejudiced in these matters. It wants improvement and results. It also wants to see fewer young Western Australians caught up in a system that leads to despair and, in some cases, the criminal underworld and untimely deaths. We need a new approach to this issue. I thought that the Opposition would have respected the findings of that summit. We have taken on board the findings of the summit and accepted all of them, bar one. Yet, all the Opposition has put forward is an ideological knee-jerk reaction. We do not hear a serious analysis of the issues. In the Parliament today the Leader of the Opposition repeated misinformation on the Government’s position. Under our regime, cannabis will remain illegal, but small-time users will receive civil penalties. We have simply continued and developed the system of cannabis cautioning established by the Court Government. This Opposition has its head in the sand with a range of issues affecting Western Australia. This Government has a new, fresh approach that will deliver results. We do not want to see many thousands of young Western Australians caught up in the criminal system and affected by that for the rest of their lives. We want those young Western Australians directed into educational programs and cautioned about their behaviour. That is a much better approach that will produce results. The Leader of the Opposition has decided to convert the Liberal Party of Western Australia into a conservative right-wing rump of the National Party. As we saw in the weekend by-election, the National Party is outdoing the Liberal Party. The Leader of the Opposition is reducing his party to an irrelevant rump that is not addressing real issues. This Government puts people, solutions and results over and above ideological knee-jerk reactions.
(1)-(3) The Labor Party went to the recent election with a very clear commitment to change the State’s approach to resolving its drug problems. I remind the Leader of the Opposition and those sitting around him of the performance of his Government in this area. Mr Day: It was much better than yours. Dr GALLOP: I remind the Parliament that the Task Force on Drug Abuse reported in 1995 that Western Australia had one of the lowest levels of use of illicit drugs such as heroin and cocaine. Its recent report indicated that Western Australia now has the second-highest rate of illicit drug use in Australia, and that Australia has one of the highest rates in the world. We set up the Drug Summit to get new ideas to address this problem. Today’s Government is not prejudiced in these matters. It wants improvement and results. It also wants to see fewer young Western Australians caught up in a system that leads to despair and, in some cases, the criminal underworld and untimely deaths. We need a new approach to this issue. I thought that the Opposition would have respected the findings of that summit. We have taken on board the findings of the summit and accepted all of them, bar one. Yet, all the Opposition has put forward is an ideological knee-jerk reaction. We do not hear a serious analysis of the issues. In the Parliament today the Leader of the Opposition repeated misinformation on the Government’s position. Under our regime, cannabis will remain illegal, but small-time users will receive civil penalties. We have simply continued and developed the system of cannabis cautioning established by the Court Government. This Opposition has its head in the sand with a range of issues affecting Western Australia. This Government has a new, fresh approach that will deliver results. We do not want to see many thousands of young Western Australians caught up in the criminal system and affected by that for the rest of their lives. We want those young Western Australians directed into educational programs and cautioned about their behaviour. That is a much better approach that will produce results. The Leader of the Opposition has decided to convert the Liberal Party of Western Australia into a conservative right-wing rump of the National Party. As we saw in the weekend by-election, the National Party is outdoing the Liberal Party. The Leader of the Opposition is reducing his party to an irrelevant rump that is not addressing real issues. This Government puts people, solutions and results over and above ideological knee-jerk reactions.
Mr Day: It was much better than yours. Dr GALLOP: I remind the Parliament that the Task Force on Drug Abuse reported in 1995 that Western Australia had one of the lowest levels of use of illicit drugs such as heroin and cocaine. Its recent report indicated that Western Australia now has the second-highest rate of illicit drug use in Australia, and that Australia has one of the highest rates in the world. We set up the Drug Summit to get new ideas to address this problem. Today’s Government is not prejudiced in these matters. It wants improvement and results. It also wants to see fewer young Western Australians caught up in a system that leads to despair and, in some cases, the criminal underworld and untimely deaths. We need a new approach to this issue. I thought that the Opposition would have respected the findings of that summit. We have taken on board the findings of the summit and accepted all of them, bar one. Yet, all the Opposition has put forward is an ideological knee-jerk reaction. We do not hear a serious analysis of the issues. In the Parliament today the Leader of the Opposition repeated misinformation on the Government’s position. Under our regime, cannabis will remain illegal, but small-time users will receive civil penalties. We have simply continued and developed the system of cannabis cautioning established by the Court Government. This Opposition has its head in the sand with a range of issues affecting Western Australia. This Government has a new, fresh approach that will deliver results. We do not want to see many thousands of young Western Australians caught up in the criminal system and affected by that for the rest of their lives. We want those young Western Australians directed into educational programs and cautioned about their behaviour. That is a much better approach that will produce results. The Leader of the Opposition has decided to convert the Liberal Party of Western Australia into a conservative right-wing rump of the National Party. As we saw in the weekend by-election, the National Party is outdoing the Liberal Party. The Leader of the Opposition is reducing his party to an irrelevant rump that is not addressing real issues. This Government puts people, solutions and results over and above ideological knee-jerk reactions.
Dr GALLOP: I remind the Parliament that the Task Force on Drug Abuse reported in 1995 that Western Australia had one of the lowest levels of use of illicit drugs such as heroin and cocaine. Its recent report indicated that Western Australia now has the second-highest rate of illicit drug use in Australia, and that Australia has one of the highest rates in the world. We set up the Drug Summit to get new ideas to address this problem. Today’s Government is not prejudiced in these matters. It wants improvement and results. It also wants to see fewer young Western Australians caught up in a system that leads to despair and, in some cases, the criminal underworld and untimely deaths. We need a new approach to this issue. I thought that the Opposition would have respected the findings of that summit. We have taken on board the findings of the summit and accepted all of them, bar one. Yet, all the Opposition has put forward is an ideological knee-jerk reaction. We do not hear a serious analysis of the issues. In the Parliament today the Leader of the Opposition repeated misinformation on the Government’s position. Under our regime, cannabis will remain illegal, but small-time users will receive civil penalties. We have simply continued and developed the system of cannabis cautioning established by the Court Government. This Opposition has its head in the sand with a range of issues affecting Western Australia. This Government has a new, fresh approach that will deliver results. We do not want to see many thousands of young Western Australians caught up in the criminal system and affected by that for the rest of their lives. We want those young Western Australians directed into educational programs and cautioned about their behaviour. That is a much better approach that will produce results. The Leader of the Opposition has decided to convert the Liberal Party of Western Australia into a conservative right-wing rump of the National Party. As we saw in the weekend by-election, the National Party is outdoing the Liberal Party. The Leader of the Opposition is reducing his party to an irrelevant rump that is not addressing real issues. This Government puts people, solutions and results over and above ideological knee-jerk reactions.
I thought that the Opposition would have respected the findings of that summit. We have taken on board the findings of the summit and accepted all of them, bar one. Yet, all the Opposition has put forward is an ideological knee-jerk reaction. We do not hear a serious analysis of the issues. In the Parliament today the Leader of the Opposition repeated misinformation on the Government’s position. Under our regime, cannabis will remain illegal, but small-time users will receive civil penalties. We have simply continued and developed the system of cannabis cautioning established by the Court Government. This Opposition has its head in the sand with a range of issues affecting Western Australia. This Government has a new, fresh approach that will deliver results. We do not want to see many thousands of young Western Australians caught up in the criminal system and affected by that for the rest of their lives. We want those young Western Australians directed into educational programs and cautioned about their behaviour. That is a much better approach that will produce results. The Leader of the Opposition has decided to convert the Liberal Party of Western Australia into a conservative right-wing rump of the National Party. As we saw in the weekend by-election, the National Party is outdoing the Liberal Party. The Leader of the Opposition is reducing his party to an irrelevant rump that is not addressing real issues. This Government puts people, solutions and results over and above ideological knee-jerk reactions.
The Leader of the Opposition has decided to convert the Liberal Party of Western Australia into a conservative right-wing rump of the National Party. As we saw in the weekend by-election, the National Party is outdoing the Liberal Party. The Leader of the Opposition is reducing his party to an irrelevant rump that is not addressing real issues. This Government puts people, solutions and results over and above ideological knee-jerk reactions.
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