Senator Zed Seselja continues his campaign against ACT Labor MLA Michael Pettersson’s motion to amend the ACT drug laws. He is concerned that with Federal Labor MP Alicia Payne‘s support, this policy could become ACT law.
Last week, the Liberal Senator for the ACT said AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw’s evidence before a Senate committee that decriminalisation of illicit drugs would make society more dangerous was “a damning blow to proponents of the extreme Greens plan”.
Today, he warned his supporters on Facebook that Ms Payne “has endorsed radical plans to decriminalise hard drugs like ice and heroin”.
The ACT Labor bill would decriminalise possession of small amounts of hard drugs; those caught in possession would pay a fine and be referred to a medical professional, rather than facing a two-year prison sentence.
]The motion is supported by the ACT Greens, but the Canberra Liberals said last year they cannot support the bill as it stands because it is simplistic and conflicts with Commonwealth Law.
“The dangerous ACT Labor-Greens proposal to decriminalise ice and heroin is likely to become law in the ACT, and is part of the Federal Greens policy platform at this election,” Senator Seselja posted this morning.
“With Federal Labor’s endorsement of this extreme Greens policy, there is a very serious and real threat this could become reality under a Federal Labor-Greens Government.”
Ms Payne responded that she supported decriminalisation “as a health–based, harm minimisation approach and an important tool in our battle against the damaging effects of illicit drugs”.
“Decriminalisation is not legalisation – the reforms do not make drugs legal, and will make it easier for users to receive help,” she said.
“The evidence shows that criminal penalties for possessing small amounts of drugs do not stop people using drugs, and can actually destroy lives and make it harder for people to seek the help they need.”
The bill has been supported by the Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drugs Association (ATODA), Uniting NSW/ACT, Directions Health Services, the ANU Drug Research Network, the Canberra Alliance for Harm Minimisation and Advocacy, and Families and Friends for Drug Law Reform.
Ms Payne implied that Senator Seselja was running a scare campaign and interfering in ACT politics. (Last week, Mr Pettersson had also dismissed the Senator’s remarks as conservative scare tactics, noting Commissioner Kershaw’s predecessor, Mick Palmer, strongly supports decriminalisation.)
“Unlike Senator Seselja, I support the rights of Territory and State Governments to make their own laws,” Ms Payne said.
“The ACT Legislative Assembly inquired into the proposed reforms and recommended they be passed. Ultimately, it is up to the ACT Government.
“It is instructive that after nine years in power, all Senator Seselja and Prime Minister Scott Morrison can contribute to public debate is fabricated scare campaigns. Canberrans deserve so much better.
“This is an ACT issue. As a minister, I’d like to see Senator Seselja spend less time meddling in Territory affairs and put his energy into fixing some of the problems caused by the Morrison Government’s mismanagement in aged care, cost of living, gender inequality, the climate crisis, and housing affordability.”
