Page 4300 - Week 14 - Tuesday, 7 December 1993

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. potential profits and pyramid supply structures in illicit drug dealing lead to active recruitment of new drug users and active introduction of new products to existing users,

. prohibition increases the burden on the criminal justice system,

. prohibition promotes corruption.

We therefore:

. unequivocally oppose the policies of prohibition,

. recognise the fact that drug use will continue in our society and we can no longer abrogate our responsibility to reform drug laws, policies and programs,

. seek to establish policies and laws that will control production, manufacture and distribution of drugs of dependence and psychotropic substances.

Part B:

Urgent Reforms

The Australian Parliamentary Group for Drug Law Reform recognises:

. Australia has current obligations under International Treaties,

. there is no approach to the use of drugs of dependence and psychotropic substances which will ever provide a drug free community,

. some measure of success has already been achieved through adoption of policies which give priority to the minimisation of harm,

. there is positive overseas experience of new approaches to drug law which can provide useful models for Australian reform.

Therefore, the Australian Parliamentary Group for Drug Law Reform calls for the urgent adoption of harm minimisation strategies throughout Australia including:

. establishment and legalisation of sufficient needle exchange and distribution programs which are readily accessible to users throughout Australia,

. introduction and maintenance of broad based methadone programs for all heroin users seeking this type of assistance,

. expansion of rehabilitation programs in range and number to provide access and choice,

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