Greens move to remove 25 yr old drug dog powers to enter licensed premises
Greens MP and drug law reform spokesperson Cate Faehrmann has introduced a bill to repeal NSW police powers granted by the Carr Labor Government in 2001 to conduct drug dog operations in nightclubs, pubs, music festivals, public transport stations and entertainment precincts.
Cate’s speech to the Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Amendment (Drug Detection Dogs) Bill 2026 can be found here and a copy of the bill here.
“Legislation to give NSW Police powers to use drug detection dogs to enter licensed venues and search people without warrants was introduced 25 years ago under the Carr Labor Government. Twenty-five years later it’s time to admit this experiment has failed,” said Cate Faehrmann.
Following the Olympics and the Wood Royal Commission, drug dogs were originally justified as a way to target drug supply. The evidence says otherwise. Instead, they’ve become a tool to stop, search and intimidate people for simply catching a train or going to a pub, club or festival with friends.
Police data from 2014-2023 showed that of 82,471 searches conducted following a drug dog indication, drugs were found in just 11,136 cases or 13.5 percent. Less than 2 percent of those searched resulted in a charge for drug supply.
“After 25 years, we need to be honest about what drug dog operations are actually achieving. They’re not reducing drug supply and not keeping people any safer, with experts repeatedly telling us drug dogs can push people to engage in riskier behaviour including taking all their drugs at once to avoid detection.
“The prevalence of dozens of police with drug dogs roaming our entertainment precincts are undermining this government’s supposed commitment to reviving Sydney’s nightlife.
“I’ve heard from many people who say they are too fearful of police harassment to go out to a club anymore. Recent operations at Oxford Street venues have shown how intimidating these tactics are, particularly with LGBTQIA+ communities who have a long history of being targeted and harassed by police.
“I’ve even heard from people who have left Sydney because of the completely over-the-top presence of police and drug dogs.
“If the Minns Government is serious about building a vibrant Sydney nightlife it needs to stop policing people out of it.
“Drug dogs were introduced 25 years ago for dubious reasons. Since then successive governments have clung to a policy that’s failed to deliver on its promise to target drug supply. It’s time to stop wasting public resources and ditch the dogs,” said Cate Faehrmann.