In February this year, Labor backbencher Michael Pettersson introduced a private members bill to remove criminal penalties for possession of small amounts of some illicit drugs in the Australian Capital Territory.
This might seem like a radical step to some, but researchers and health professionals have been calling for this reform for some time.
Most Australians support decriminalisation and a less punitive approach to drug use.
The bill is currently before a parliamentary committee that will look at the evidence and submissions from professionals, people who use drugs and the general public, and will report back in October this year.
Most Australians support decriminalization and a less punitive approach to drug use.
Author of the article: Nicole Lee and Jarryd Bartle  â¢Â The Conversation
Publishing date: Apr 06, 2021  â¢Â 3 hours ago  â¢Â 4 minute read  â¢Â Demonstrators holding a sign depicting U.S. President Barack Obama smoking and advocating for legalization of marijuana, stand outside the gates prior to an official arrival ceremony for Obama at Parliament House in Canberra on November 16, 2011. Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images
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In February this year, Labor backbencher Michael Pettersson introduced a private members bill to remove criminal penalties for possession of small amounts of some illicit drugs in the Australian Capital Territory.
“The disgraceful thing about all of this was there was absolutely no consultation whatsoever with people in the local area or the residents who are going to be most affected, to whom these plans came as a complete shock.
“We were told that at some stage in January we would be involved in an engagement process, where we would have been able to express our views, but I have to say I find that somewhat meaningless because as you can see they are already have machines in the land, they have created an access route to the land and yet they say it will not be approved until after the engagement.
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With 12,707 adults incarcerated in the NSW
prison system last September, this state continues to be the
greatest incarcerator in the country.
Successive state governments of both persuasions, however,
haven t seen this as an opportunity to invest elsewhere. Rather
channelling funds into this state s correctional facilities has
become a favoured pastime for parliamentarians.
The Baird government announced a $3.8 billion four year funding package in
2016 to increase the capacity of this state s correctional
facilities by 7,000 beds. Prisons were expanded, new facilities
were built, while others were repurposed.
Work has begun on yet another Kent lorry park as diggers carved up farmland above the White Cliffs of Dover today for a new post-Brexit customs facility.
Once complete, the site in Guston, near Dover, will open as a customs checkpoint facility, with the ability to hold 1,200 lorries, should there be delays at the ports similar to those seen last month.
Work is well underway at a similar facility in Sevington, Ashford, which will be able to hold up to 2,000 trucks.
The sites in Guston and Sevington are set to be used for post-Brexit customs checks to prevent delays at nearby ports - with three other sites in Kent are set to also be up and running by July.