Page 3741 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 27 August 2008
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the minister’s speech in Hansard in the future will be so uncertain as to what she was saying that they will be scratching their heads.
It seems that, because Mr Mulcahy has brought a bill in about banning bongs, somehow the Liberal Party has abandoned drug users. The disconnect in that logic is symptomatic of this minister and her approach to so many issues. We see it in the way she abandoned the school community by secretly plotting to shut 23 schools. We see it in the way that she abandoned her responsibilities as a shareholder with the dance centre project and with Rhodium. Now we have got this illogical conclusion in the most inane speech ever given in the history of this place when talking about drugs. It is just appalling that the minister would purport to have some sort of knowledge.
The logic of her case is: we have not consulted on Mr Mulcahy’s bill; it has only been here for a week; therefore, we cannot support it. Look at the number of bills in the last couple of weeks that the government have dropped with a week’s notice and that they expect this place to pass. The double standard that she exposes and their lack of governance and good process on so many issues leave one speechless that she would even attempt to run that line.
MR SPEAKER: Really?
MR SMYTH: Sorry? Be speechless, Mr Speaker. This is the minister who wants to change the tobacco industry. I note the comments that in some jurisdictions in Europe you can have marijuana but without the tobacco and the idiocy of that. But this minister has a bill that seeks to put more punitive measures on the tobacco industry in regard to its display and sale; yet she cannot make a decision on the implements that would allow people to use an illicit drug.
She spoke about the Liberals’ attack on the drug community. What suburb do they live in? It is like they are this discrete little community. They are not a discrete community, minister. If you had been doing your job properly you would know that they are scattered throughout the community. If you had visited Schizophrenia Fellowship meetings over the last four years or the last seven years that you have been in this place you would know the concerns about these issues in many of the support groups who look after people who are victims of the use of illicit drugs. This is the appalling nature of what you have just said.
I think it is shameful that you would try to politicise it in this way without having a firm position yourself. In fact, Mr Mulcahy bringing this bill forward exposes you for your failure to address this issue in the time that you have been health minister in the seven years in which your government has been in place. This jurisdiction used to lead on drug reform, certainly in the discussion of it. Since the Stanhope government has come to power it has been abandoned and you are one of the ministers that have led to the abandonment of that discussion.
Members interjecting–
MR SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr Smyth has the floor.
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