“Decriminalise drugs”: Special Commission of Inquiry into the Drug “Ice” report released after pressure from Greens MP Cate Faehrmann
Premier Gladys Berejiklian has been forced to release the Special Commission of Inquiry into the Drug ‘Ice’ Report before a Greens motion in the NSW Upper House would have made it public next week.
Greens MP and Drug Law Reform and Harm Minimisation spokesperson Cate Faehrmann had today intended to move a motion to call for papers for the release of the report by Monday. It was understood that the call for papers would pass the Upper House.
The report recommends that the NSW Government decriminalises the use and possession of prohibited drugs for personal use (recommendation 11). Cate Faehrmann recently gave notice of the Greens’ Drug Misuse and Trafficking Amendment (Decriminalisation) Bill 2019.
“It’s unacceptable that the Premier kept this important report hidden for almost a month despite repeated requests for its release from medical experts and families impacted by the drug ice,” Ms Faehrmann said.
“Now that it’s been released I urge her to put blind ideology aside and support the recommendations in this report to save lives including decriminalising all drugs for personal use.
“Leading drug and health experts and people directly impacted by the drug ice gave sometimes harrowing evidence and advice to guide the report’s recommendations. We owe it to them, and to all those affected by drug harm and who might be in need of support, to analyse and urgently implement any findings.
“Now that the report has been released I’ll be pursuing its recommendations to ensure we have best practice, evidence-based policies that reduce drug harm and save lives. I call on all Members of Parliament to put politics aside and do the same.
“In the coming months I’ll be finalising a Bill to decriminalise the use and possession of currently illicit drugs in NSW. The Commissioner’s recommendation is just the latest in a long line of recommendations that are guided by evidence to decriminalise drugs.
“We can’t stop people from using drugs, but we can stop people from dying from them,” said Ms Faehrmann.
Contact: Ben Cronly | 0487 247 960
Full report can be found here.
Full text of the motion:
Ms Faehrmann says—
Mr PRESIDENT:
I give notice that on the next sitting day I will move:
(1) That this House notes that:
(a) the Special Commission of Inquiry into the Drug ‘Ice’ was established by Letters Patent dated 28 November 2018 and as amended by further Letters Patent dated 28 February 2019 and 11 July 2019,
(b) the Commissioner, Professor Dan Howard SC, was required to provide a final report of the results of the inquiry to the offices of the Premier and the Governor on or before 28 January 2020, and
(c) the report has not yet been made public.
(2) That, under Standing Order 52, there be laid upon the table of the House within 4 days of the date of the passing of this resolution the following documents in the possession, custody or control of the Premier or the Department of Premier and Cabinet:
(a) the final report of the results of the Special Commission of Inquiry into the Drug ‘Ice’, and
(b) any legal or other advice regarding the scope or validity of this order of the House created as a result of this order of the House.