Page 216 - Week 01 - Thursday, 18 February 1993
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This followed a previous commitment in 1985 of all States to adopt a uniform approach to the scheduling of drugs of dependence. In the ACT, changes to the three Acts in front of us today are required to achieve this end. The Poisons and Drugs (Amendment) Bill 1992 also introduces much needed controls over the most dangerous poisons, those in Schedule 7.
In October last year the Assembly debated a motion I had brought forward in August which urged the immediate introduction of the scheduling by reference Bills. I argued at the time that the Bills were urgent. Because of the Government's tardiness in bringing forward the legislation, it was costing hayfever sufferers in the ACT substantial amounts of money. Unfortunately, some sufferers went through the whole hayfever season continuing to pay much more than their New South Wales counterparts for their medication. My estimate is that the Government's bloody-mindedness cost the average hayfever sufferer who takes hismanal - a 24-hour acting, non-sedating antihistamine - in excess of $100 more than necessary during spring last year.
During the debate on the motion I tabled in August last year both Mr Berry and Mr Lamont berated me for not understanding the system of legislation and for not understanding the complexity of drafting such difficult legislation. As recorded on page 2591 of the Assembly Hansard of 14 October, Mr Lamont said:
This is the simple reason why we have Mrs Carnell carping about the delay which has allegedly occurred in fulfilling the undertaking given by Mr Berry last year. The fact is that the world is not quite as simplistic as Mrs Carnell believes it is, looking through her rose-tinted pharmaceutical glasses.
A great deal of additional work has been necessary to ensure that the legislation is appropriately dealt with.
Mr Berry said:
Of course, if she had a better understanding of the legislation process she would understand that this sort of legislation often does not rate as first priority.
On the same day, as recorded on page 2593, he said:
This is a complex parcel of legislation which requires the allocation of considerable drafting resources in both time and personnel.
I said earlier that it was the Government's bloody-mindedness that cost hayfever sufferers in excess of $100 last spring - and I mean bloody-mindedness. In June last year, that is four months before that debate, Mr Berry wrote to the chairman of the ACT sub-branch of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia. The letter said:
I am able to advise you that draft bills have been prepared ...
I will quote again - "have been prepared".
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