Page 4433 - Week 14 - Thursday, 1 December 1994
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MRS CARNELL: This section also details the requirements that a person must satisfy when submitting an application to conduct medical research.
Mr Connolly: But it does not apply.
MRS CARNELL: In your view, Mr Connolly. According to the Act, this application must be accompanied by a written description of the program, including its estimated duration. In the case of a program of research, that means a clinical trial protocol; a written statement approving the program, signed by the person in charge of the institution; and, of course, the determined fee. The Minister is empowered under section 33 to grant an authorisation to the applicant if the application meets specific requirements, such as the scientific viability of the research - not the research program - and the suitability of the applicant. Section 34 sets out the conditions that may be specified in an authorisation to ensure that proper records concerning the use, receipt and disposal of the drugs are kept. The remainder of the Act sets out requirements for the duration, renewal, surrender and circumstances under which cancellation of the authorisation may be ordered by the relevant Minister.
Madam Speaker, nothing in Part IV of the Act allows for a person who is actually part of that research program, or that medical research, not to be subject to legal proceedings. Legal proceedings could be taken against somebody who was part of that sort of medical research program. I think it is important in all legislation that comes before this house - whether it be my HIV Bill or the legislation we passed yesterday - to keep in mind that we must have a coordinated approach to the prevention and treatment of AIDS and other conditions, but specifically AIDS on World AIDS Day. My Bill is part of that package.
MR MOORE: I have a supplementary question, Madam Speaker. I would like to draw the attention of the Leader of the Opposition to that part of the question I asked about the appalling hypocrisy, for political gain, of the Minister, whereby he would further penalise suffering people - people dying with AIDS - whose suffering may in some small way be eased by using cannabis.
MRS CARNELL: I thank Mr Moore for the supplementary question. As Mr Moore would know, books have been written on this subject - on the importance, or the potential importance, of cannabis in the treatment of end-stage AIDS, both for pain and for nausea. Obviously, anybody who wears two AIDS ribbons - not just one, but two - on World AIDS Day and who, unilaterally and for straight-out political purposes, rules out any capacity for those people to have some relief from their suffering is totally hypocritical.
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