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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 9 Hansard (28 August) . . Page.. 2722 ..

MRS CARNELL (continuing):

Last but by no means least, the Ministerial Council on Drug Strategy brings together health and law enforcement Ministers from all Australian governments to develop policy with the aim of reducing harm related to the use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. I represented both portfolios for the ACT. The agenda for this year was grouped under the headings of evaluation of the national drug strategy; action to address harm related to the use of illicit drugs, alcohol and tobacco; results of a review of long-term treatment; and the establishment of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander drug advisory group to the National Drug Strategy Committee.

Without doubt, the discussion of the heroin trial was the major focus of the meeting. I have expressed my disappointment at the lack of courage of some States in supporting this research. However, this should not overshadow the fact that the Commonwealth Government has taken the initiative to work with the ACT, South Australian and Victorian governments to further develop this proposal. I can safely say that we are no longer alone but are now part of a four-government effort to resolve some of the real and imagined problems associated with the trial. In that sense, the ACT's ongoing commitment to seeking national commitment for the trial has been vindicated, and I am happy that we are now working in a partnership with governments, rather than just being a voice in the wilderness.

This proposal should not overshadow the other important decisions made by the council, which included a statement on a comprehensive strategy to minimise illicit drug-related harm, which I seek to table in the Assembly.

Mr Moore: It is not attached. That is the problem.

MRS CARNELL: I will table it if it is not attached. The council endorsed the establishment of an expert advisory group on illicit drug issues; an early warning system to identify emerging drug issues and predicting drug taking trends; development of community policing practices to reinforce the harm minimisation approach to illicit drugs; and an information and education campaign to reduce accidental drug overdoses and a national campaign to assist parents and families to address drug-related issues in a family context.

The total cost of all drug-related harm to the ACT community is at least one-third of a billion dollars each year. Much of this cannot be recovered as it represents loss of life. However, it reinforces the importance of continuing to have both a national and a local approach and for this Assembly to take tough and far-sighted decisions to reduce the horrendous personal and financial cost to the community. I think it would be remiss of me not to thank Mr Moore for his support with regard to the work we have done on the heroin trial and also to thank the Assembly as a whole for treating this very delicate issue in the way it has and not using it as a political football. I present the following paper:

Ministerial meetings - Hobart, July 1996 - ministerial statement, 28 August 1996

I move:

That the Assembly takes note of the paper.

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