❓ Dr. Walker questions the Health Minister about resource allocation for cannabis research compared to tobacco campaigns, given similar usage rates. The Minister acknowledges the figures and highlights existing data sources for monitoring cannabis trends.
AnsweredQoN 243Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
CANNABIS — RESEARCH
243. Hon Dr BRIAN WALKER to the minister representing the
Minister for Health:
I refer the minister to a recent
edition of The Context with John Barron subtitled ''The Battle
Against Smoking'', screened nationally on the ABC, which noted that
although 11 per cent of Australian's still smoke daily, more people—11.6
per cent—consume cannabis on a regular basis. Noting those statistics,
I ask the following.
(1) Does the Department of Health
acknowledge those figures as accurate?
(2) How much money did the department allocate to
tobacco-based health campaigns in the last financial year?
(3) Will the
minister commit to allocating the same level of resources to research into
cannabis trends and outcomes in the coming year?
243. Hon Dr BRIAN WALKER to the minister representing the
Minister for Health:
I refer the minister to a recent
edition of The Context with John Barron subtitled ''The Battle
Against Smoking'', screened nationally on the ABC, which noted that
although 11 per cent of Australian's still smoke daily, more people—11.6
per cent—consume cannabis on a regular basis. Noting those statistics,
I ask the following.
(1) Does the Department of Health
acknowledge those figures as accurate?
(2) How much money did the department allocate to
tobacco-based health campaigns in the last financial year?
(3) Will the
minister commit to allocating the same level of resources to research into
cannabis trends and outcomes in the coming year?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) According to
the National drug strategy household survey 2019 , 11 per cent of
Australians over 14 years smoke daily and 11.6 per cent of Australians over 14
years consumed cannabis in the past 12 months.
(2) The allocation was $2 742 772,
excluding GST.
(3) There are
existing robust and longitudinal data sources that enable us to identify
cannabis trends and health and social outcomes at a national and local
jurisdictional level. This includes the National drug strategy household
survey , the Australian secondary school students alcohol and drug survey
and the Western Australian health and wellbeing surveillance system.
some notice of the question.
(1) According to
the National drug strategy household survey 2019 , 11 per cent of
Australians over 14 years smoke daily and 11.6 per cent of Australians over 14
years consumed cannabis in the past 12 months.
(2) The allocation was $2 742 772,
excluding GST.
(3) There are
existing robust and longitudinal data sources that enable us to identify
cannabis trends and health and social outcomes at a national and local
jurisdictional level. This includes the National drug strategy household
survey , the Australian secondary school students alcohol and drug survey
and the Western Australian health and wellbeing surveillance system.
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