Page 2524 - Week 08 - Thursday, 19 August 1993
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The National Food Standards Council achieved a historic first with its support of a joint Australasian food regulatory system. The system will contribute to closer economic relations between Australia and New Zealand and facilitate the food trade between the two countries. Ministers agreed that the National Food Authority's review of standards, currently being undertaken, will be the vehicle for the development of the joint Australasian food standards code. The proposal will now be submitted to the Australian and New Zealand governments.
Now I would like to report, Madam Speaker, on matters discussed at the Ministerial Council on Drug Strategy meeting. The council comprises the health and law enforcement Ministers from Commonwealth, State and Territory governments and meets annually to discuss future directions for Australia's national strategy on drugs. I represented both the law enforcement and health portfolios on this occasion. The council's philosophy on drugs is strongly based on the principle of harm minimisation. This means that, in regard to all drug issues, we ask the question: What is the harm associated with the use of this drug and how do we minimise the impact on users, their families and friends and the community in general? Since its establishment in 1985 the council has brought together two major strategies to minimise drug-related harm: Supply control, generally the responsibility of law enforcement; and demand reduction, generally the responsibility of health and education.
The current national drug strategy follows on from the national campaign against drug abuse launched in 1985. Resolutions by the council have a strong influence on all Australian jurisdictions and are a guide to the ACT Government in managing alcohol and other drug issues in this Territory. I will be acting on a number of these resolutions over the next year to ensure that the ACT remains a leader in reducing harm related drug abuse. It was, I think, entirely timely that this ministerial statement be made, Madam Speaker, given those figures which I mentioned in question time about the success we have had in expanding our methadone program.
Madam Speaker, I would like to inform the Assembly of some of the major resolutions agreed to at the recent meeting. A major, overarching decision by the council was to endorse a national strategic plan for 1993-97 which will guide national planning and action under the national drug strategy. Each State and Territory will also develop a plan to coordinate action. The ACT will develop an alcohol and other drugs strategic plan over the next six months in consultation with relevant community groups, government agencies and others. This plan, Madam Speaker, which I will table in the Assembly on completion, will ensure that our resources are accurately targeted to address identified needs.
The issue which received most publicity on the day was the review of a national uniform health warning system for tobacco products. As a product which leads to 70 per cent of drug-related deaths and costs Australia well over $6.8 billion per year, it is fitting that tobacco should be a major concern of the council. While there has been a stepping back from the strong system agreed to by the council last year, the compromise reached retains the key elements of that system. The new system comprises six strong warnings with complementary back of the pack information and side of the pack smoke yield contents. Madam Speaker, the Government currently has a Health Warnings Bill before the Assembly and I will seek to implement the council's resolution from 1 April 1994 to support the national uniform system.
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