Page 4301 - Week 14 - Tuesday, 7 December 1993

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. provision of politically independent finance and support for properly conducted scientific studies into the treatment of drug users, or the use and misuse of drugs of dependence and psychotropic substances, including alcohol and tobacco,

. development of education programs based on self reliance and sound scientific research.

Part C:

Short Term Goals

In dealing with drugs of dependence and psychotropic substances in the short term the Australian Parliamentary Group for Drug Law Reform calls for:

. an increasing focus on the reduction of harm associated with drug use,

. abolition of criminal sanctions for the personal use of drugs,

. the adoption, on a national basis, of the South Australian and Australian Capital Territory expiation notice model for the reform of laws regarding the personal use of marijuana,

. the adoption of a process including consultation and prescription by medical practitioners for selected illicit drugs.

Part D:

Long Term Goals

The Australian Parliamentary Group for Drug Law Reform calls for a commitment to undermine the black market and illicit drug trade with its inherent problems by adopting the following long term goals:

. the reassessment of Australia's commitment to its International Treaties on illicit substances,

. independent cost-benefit analyses of all policies which seek to resolve the problems of dependence and substance misuse,

. the reform of drug laws in planned stages with detailed evaluation of such laws at all stages,

. the minimisation of the harmful use of drugs.

Mr Deputy Speaker, the "Charter for Drug Law Reform" has been adopted by a very broad range of prominent people in the community. I would like to draw members' attention to some of the signatories on the list that I have circulated, and I will do so in alphabetical order. They are: Professor Peter Baume, the former Liberal senator and probably the most longstanding advocate of reform to the drug laws; Senator Michael Beahan, ALP, from Western Australia;

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