Page 151 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 13 February 2019
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of these substances, people do not seek help. People are stigmatised, they are fearful and they are unsure if they should seek help. That is actually a significant problem, because we know, the reality right now, is that, right now, people are using these drugs in Canberra, but because of the stigmatisation and the illegal nature of them, they do not seek help.
One of the things I want is for people not to be fearful. I want them to go and seek help. It is clear that for some people, using these drugs is bad for their health. That is clearly the case, but that is the case now, and it will be the case in the future. I want an environment where people are willing to come forward to seek help without fear and without stigma, so that their health can be better than it otherwise would be.
MRS JONES: Minister, what research has the ACT government done into the impact that legalising cannabis, as we are considering, would have on road safety? What is the exact research you have undertaken?
MR RATTENBURY: There is data available on the number of people who are being drug tested on ACT roadsides. We are seeing an increase in the number of people being prosecuted right now for drug driving offences. So this is the reality of our community today. What we know is that if cannabis were to be legalised in the ACT—of course, I am taking a hypothetical question here but, in the spirit of being helpful, I will continue with my answer—there is no intent for drug driving laws to change in the ACT. If people do choose to use these drugs—
Mrs Jones: Madam Speaker, I raise a point of order on relevance. We are half way through the answer and—
Mr Barr: Twenty-nine seconds.
Mrs Jones: Okay.
Mr Barr: If that is your idea of halfway, don’t you ever be treasurer of the territory.
Members interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Members! Mrs Jones, on your point of order.
Mr Wall interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Wall!
Mrs Jones: The point of order is that the question was specifically not about what is happening on ACT roads now, not any of the things that the minister has alluded to, but what research has the government done, if any, on the impact of legalisation of cannabis on road safety in the ACT. The minister has not even started to touch on the relevant substance of the question.
MADAM SPEAKER: Thank you. He does have one minute and 30 seconds left to respond to the question. Minister Rattenbury.
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