Page 3783 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 16 October 1991
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The ACT community should be properly concerned about the resources that at times are thrown into the court battles over these matters. Members will be aware that on 23 August 1991 I placed a question on notice so that greater detail could be given to this house, and to the public, in relation to the cost of drugs of dependence prosecutions and, in particular, cannabis prosecutions. First, there is the cost of analysis. There is the whole manpower cost of pursuing, and preparing the police brief; there is the cost to the Director of Public Prosecutions; there is the drain, often on parents' financial resources, of supporting their children in this situation. Finally, there are the court resources that are tied up, and the outcome is often a fine of between $100 and $200.
I stress that it is a misnomer to say that the growing of cannabis has been decriminalised in South Australia. It is still an offence; it attracts a penalty of $150 and/or the plant is pulled up and destroyed. I have had the benefit of discussions with the South Australian authorities whilst Attorney-General. I was accompanied to those discussions by the then Assistant Commissioner of the Territory police, Assistant Commissioner Brian Bates. Since then, law officers, at my request, went to South Australia to undertake further research. In South Australia, up till March this year, 5,827 cannabis expiation notices had been issued. Two per cent of cases were defended, 78 per cent of people charged paid at the court where they were summonsed - that is, they pleaded guilty - and 20 per cent of summonses were not served.
I was advised that in South Australia the judiciary, the police and, in particular, the Police Association, accepted the law and the decreased demands on police, court and judicial resources. I again commend to members the report on cannabis prepared by the South Australian Government, a copy of which is in the Assembly library. There is also a considerable amount of statistical information available from the Bureau of Criminal Intelligence - and it is interesting to note figures which indicate that the use of amphetamines in South Australia is at a low per capita level.
Finally, drug addiction is a problem in our society. Experience has shown that our youth need clear, consistent and exemplary messages in terms of their social behaviour patterns. We have failed them miserably on alcohol; we have failed them miserably in the violence in our language, the public brawling of their elders, the public verbal brawling of their political leaders, and the constant disclosures of corruption in the highest places. Despite this, we set a higher standard on our youth.
Your average club-goer is happy to go home in a taxi from a club feeling happy and elated after, probably, a tough week's work. We set a different standard for our kids, who are often unemployed; and this, at core, is the motivation for introducing these Bills. We will maintain the offence
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