Page 3484 - Week 10 - Thursday, 20 October 2022
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with a drug dealer, and thus buy in larger quantities. I cannot quantify precisely how large this cohort would be, but I do believe they exist.
Data provided by ACT police to the select committee showcased, under the previous thresholds that I originally put forward in my private member’s bill, that roughly 80 per cent of drug seizures fell under those thresholds, which means 20 per cent were above. According to data from the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, there are roughly 355 consumers arrested for drugs in the ACT each year, and roughly 55 suppliers. Those ratios actually balance out reasonably well—about 80 per cent consumer, 20 per cent supplier. I am reasonably comfortable with where my original private member’s bill put those thresholds, and I am also comfortable with where the government amendments land. I am not convinced that this cohort exists in a significant enough way to justify the thresholds proposed in the amendments.
Throughout this debate, I have always resisted pulling out the Portugal card. I believe it is a lazy debate tactic to rely upon, to say, “This works here, so we should just do that.”
Ms Stephen-Smith interjecting—
MR PETTERSSON: Don’t worry, Ms Stephen-Smith; I am about to do it myself. I always believe that you should be able to articulate an argument. I have spent a lot of time doing that over the last two years. But on this very issue I actually think that comparisons speak volumes.
The guiding principle for decriminalised drug thresholds in Portugal is 10 days of average use. I believe that this is a sensible guiding principle. It is large enough so that people that consume drugs do not interact with drug dealers constantly, but not large enough so that the sinister elements of drug supply are emboldened.
I would like to share with the chamber a simple comparison regarding the quantities proposed by the ACT government, Portugal and the ACT Greens. For heroin, the ACT government is proposing to decriminalise one gram; Portugal has decriminalised one gram; and the ACT Greens are proposing five grams. For cocaine, the ACT government is proposing to decriminalise 1.5 grams; Portugal has decriminalised two grams; and the ACT Greens are proposing six grams. For methamphetamine, the ACT government is proposing to decriminalise one gram; Portugal decriminalised one gram; and the ACT Greens are proposing six grams. For MDMA, the ACT government is proposing to decriminalise 1.5 grams; Portugal has decriminalised one gram; and the ACT Greens are proposing 10 grams. For amphetamine, the ACT government is proposing to decriminalise 1.5 grams; Portugal has decriminalised one gram; and the ACT Greens are proposing six grams.
I understand why the ACT Greens are proposing these amendments. I do not think there is any ill intent; I simply do not agree. I believe that the proposed quantities clearly do not pass the pub test. I believe that the quantities broadly in my original bill, and also broadly in the government amendments, reflect roughly 10 days average use. I believe that this is a sensible and measured place to draw the line.
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