Page 2116 - Week 07 - Thursday, 20 August 2020
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I was pleased to see a particular discussion about the notion of having simple offence notices. I think that this is, again, an effective way of keeping people out of the criminal justice system, of breaking down some of those inequalities that we see, those social injustices that occur at the moment where different sectors of the community get treated in different ways. Having a system more like this means that those inequalities will be ironed out, at least to some extent and at least in this regard. We certainly support that finding that came from the committee and has been reflected in Mr Pettersson’s motion and speech today.
The Greens will be supporting the motion. In light of all that, I move:
Add:
“(f) explore a pill testing facility pilot in the city entertainment area, informed by expert health advice, during the 2020-21 summer.”.
MS STEPHEN-SMITH (Kurrajong—Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, Minister for Children, Youth and Families and Minister for Health) (4.28): I rise today in support of Mr Pettersson’s motion and commend him for his continued advocacy for ensuring that the ACT government continues to implement a harm-minimisation approach to alcohol and drug issues.
This is a complex policy area where many linked factors, or comorbidities, can lead to substance use and resultant harms. A range of these comorbidities can include mental health illnesses. Issues can arise from a range of socio-economic factors, including trauma, adverse childhood experiences and intergenerational trauma. In my portfolios of children, youth and families and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs, I have become acutely aware of the impacts of and intersection between trauma, mental health and drug and alcohol issues for young people and for adults.
However, there is a strong commitment from the ACT government, and from me as Minister for Health and in my other portfolios, to tackle these complex problems and to continually strive to deliver a better healthcare system overall and, as Minister Rattenbury has talked about, one that is based on evidence.
The ACT government is leading Australia in advancing a harm-minimisation approach to alcohol and other drug policy. The government has continued to invest in the alcohol and drug sector to deliver against the ACT drug strategy action plan 2018-21 priorities. To support this strategy, the ACT government invests more than $20 million each year in the alcohol and other drugs sector, across both government and non-government services. The government has continued to build on its support for the action plan, including in the 2019-20 ACT budget, where $10 million in new funding was announced over four years to advance the plan.
The ACT has achieved significant milestones in harm minimisation since 2018. The government established the ACT Drug and Alcohol Court to provide more appropriate avenues for sentencing and intensive treatment and support for people whose drug and alcohol issues substantially contributed to their involvement in the criminal justice system.
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