Page 4255 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 23 October 2019
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from accepting the view of the commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department on that interpretation.
I note that there are a broad range of matters that our directionless commonwealth government could be working on at the moment. Obvious priorities could include a proper integrity framework, creating an integrity commission, developing legislation to prevent phoenixing by corporations, responding to threats to press freedom with real reforms, and effective action at a national level to address elder abuse. The strange obsession that multiple commonwealth ministers have with the issue of the possession of small amounts of cannabis reinforces that the conservative Liberals do not understand or care about the values or the wishes of the people of Canberra.
This government accepts and respects that the role of ACT Policing is to enforce the law. The AFP, and consequently ACT Policing, is an independent statutory body, and this government is unable to bind it in any way to prevent the charging of certain cannabis offences. We have never sought to do that, and we have made that clear.
Madam Deputy Speaker, as you are aware and as Mr Hanson, I am sure, is aware, it has been the case for years that prosecutions could take place under the commonwealth Criminal Code. The police have had that opportunity under existing legislation. Mr Hanson and the Canberra Liberals conveniently close their eyes to that current reality and pretend that now the AFP will have the opportunity where previously they have not. The opportunity has existed in the past.
I reiterate that it is the view of this government that the priority of our police ought not to be the pursuit of individual recreational cannabis users acting in line with this ACT law. It is our view that the precious time and resources of police, commonwealth prosecutors and the courts can be put to better use. In line with this, ACT Policing, in its submission to the Standing Committee on Health, Ageing and Community Services inquiry into this bill, confirmed that the current ACT Policing approach was, and was to remain, focused towards the supply chain and organised crime. I note that, given the importance of these laws, the government has committed to a review of the reforms within three years of their commencement.
The ACT government is proud to be committed to a justice system that is restorative and rehabilitative. By treating cannabis use as a health issue rather than as an issue requiring the intervention of the criminal justice system, we can better address dependency and work as a community to build more resilient people, families and communities. This legislation reflects a progressive and innovative approach to drug reform. It represents a step forward towards the goal of minimising the harm of drugs in this community.
This legislation has been passed by this democratically elected Assembly, representing the ACT community. That passage followed careful consideration of the legislation by all members of the Assembly, and nothing has changed since that took place that should affect that. I urge members to reject the motion to not commence the legislation of the Legislative Assembly either at the behest of members of this Assembly who may be dissatisfied with the outcome of the democratic vote within
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