Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 9 Hansard (5 September) . . Page.. 2861 ..

MR STANHOPE (continuing):

We had another debate that I am sure Mr Moore is aware of. That was about the fact that this legislation, to the extent that it continues to punish self-administration or administration to someone else, is not consistent with some notions of effective drug control and drug law reform. I say that as an aside and as a point for debate on another day.

The Labor Party will be supporting this legislation, Mr Speaker.

MS TUCKER (11.09): The ACT Greens will be supporting this bill. The escalating use of anabolic steroids reflects the cultural obsession with performance, achievement and body image. Such obsessions can be destructive in the extreme. Illicit, destructive consumption of dangerous drugs is the logical consequence of the biotechnological determinism that the developed world is so content to pursue. After all, the field of entertainment, in which competitive sport is perhaps a pinnacle, is a massive and expanding business. It is easy and tempting to step over the arbitrary line that separates the acceptable from the not acceptable in chemical performance enhancement. It is also the obsession world of body image, the land of gyms and nightclubs and the industry of self-serving fame which give the shape and strength of the body such an exaggerated importance.

While the ACT Greens support the increase in penalties for unauthorised supply to a level more or less consistent with other states and the Commonwealth and are pleased to update the list of anabolic steroids in schedule 1, we are mindful that these penalties simply address the symptoms, not the cause, and look forward to the development of a culture which truly values diversity and expression above fashion and competitive success.

MR MOORE (Minister for Health and Community Care) (11.10), in reply: I rise to respond to comments from members and to express appreciation for members' support for the legislation. Mr Stanhope is not the first person to note that I can take a tough on drug stance. I have done so for a long time with regard to tobacco, and will continue to do so. It is all about how we interpret what that means. I do not condone misuse of any drugs, but I am a very firm supporter of harm minimisation.

Anabolic steroids are different from the other drugs we deal with. Although it is about body image and other things, it is primarily about cheating in sport. Sport is becoming very big business, with huge demands put on people. We are playing our part in ensuring that we stop it.

I am interested to note-and Ms Tucker might also note-that Mr Stanhope suggested that I should do something about self-administration. I am prepared to bring legislation into the Assembly to remove penalties for self-administration should I have the support of the Assembly. The very first piece of legislation that was given to me as a minister was on the issue of self-administration. Mr Stanhope might know that I am responding on self-administration. I decided to postpone that until such time as we did the legislation for a supervised injecting place. Since events have turned out the way they have, if Mr Stanhope is willing to support the removal of self-administration, I am very comfortable about bringing legislation into the Assembly. Perhaps we will have a general discussion about that, not just a discussion in regard to anabolic steroids.

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .