Coroner’s findings proof that policing the war on drugs unwinnable and damaging 8 November 2019

Today’s Coroners Court findings make it clear the aggressive ongoing police war against young people and the music industry is damaging and unwinnable.

A key finding was that drug detection dogs don’t work to limit supply of illegal drugs but likely do encourage risky behaviour like pre-loading or panic ingestion. This must spell the end of the drug dog program and police as responders to drugs rather than medical professionals.

The coroner has recommended the Government give "full and genuine consideration" to "decriminalising personal use of drugs, as a mechanism to reduce the harm caused by drug use".

Greens MP and Justice Spokesperson David Shoebridge said:

“Over the last 10 years police have continued to intensify their activities at music festivals with drug dogs, strip searches and an oppressive presence now the norm. No one is safer because of this.

“This has done nothing to stem the use of illegal drugs, and has meant that young people were placed at greater risk than was necessary.

“Police have responded with massive increases in strip searches of patrons at music festivals, traumatising thousands of young people with no identified impact on drug supply.

“Aggressive policing is making things worse, no young person feels safe seeking medical attention if police are watching the medical tents.

“More drug dogs and more strip searches is the worst possible answer, and the Premier needs to stand up to the Police Minister and Commissioner and put sensible harm minimization into place.

“Fewer police, more ambulance staff and peer to peer support would be a start to ensure this summer festival season is a safer one,” Mr Shoebridge said.

The Greens have a plan to create world-class public services

The Greens have a plan to create world-class public services:

▲	Introduce Medicare of the future: a truly universal health care system that includes dental and mental health · More »
▲	Guarantee free or low-cost access to all essential community services such as disability services, childcare, mental health and aged care services · More »
▲	Increase Newstart and Youth Allowance · More »
▲	Fully fund public schools and provide free TAFE and Uni · More »
▲	Guarantee access to aged care services and ensure there is an aged care workforce for the future · More »
▲	Treat drug use as a health issue, not a criminal issue · More »

Lets get real about pill testing

Let’s get real about pills. The war on drugs has failed and, every year, young Australians lose their lives after taking dangerous pills. The reality is that people will always choose to use drugs - in fact, almost half of all adults have used pills or party drugs.

Expert panel’s recommendations on drugs doomed to fail: Greens

The recommendations announced today from the NSW Premier's expert panel into safety at music festivals are doomed to fail and won’t save lives, Greens MP and spokesperson for Drug Law Reform, Cate Faehrmann says.

If pill testing is in place at music festivals then lives will be saved

If pill testing and other harm minimisation measures are in place at music festivals then lives will be saved .

The deaths of two young people at a music festival last weekend were tragic, especially so because those deaths were preventable.
We can and we must end the war on drugs and save lives this summer. Policing has not, and will not, stop some young people choosing to take drugs.

With pill testing, amnesty bins and peer to peer support we can save lives this summer festival season.

Sign the petition and join our campaign here.

Your support will help us build pressure on the Liberal-National Government to adopt harm-minimasation strategies that we know will save lives.
 
Thanks for your support,
Greens NSW MPs David Shoebridge and Cate Faehrmann

Labor sides with Government as motion to abandon drug testing income support recipients voted down

A senate motion calling on the Government to abandon drug testing income support recipients has been voted down by the Coalition with the help of Labor.

“Labor has today made it clear what they think of drug testing people accessing the social safety net.

“They have been vague around this measure since it was announced but have taken sides with the Government today.

“This motion also gave members of the Government the chance to see sense and abandon this flawed approach.

“The Government has conceded they may need an exemption from the Disability Discrimination Act to roll out this measure, if that is not a red flag I don’t know what is. It is clearly discriminatory.

“Drug addiction needs to be treated as a health issue. Testing income support recipients has been a failed measure in the US and has been abandoned after proposals in the UK and Canada. It needs to be abandoned.”

June 14  2017

It’s time to get real about drugs

After yet another tragic summer festival season, it’s time to get real about drugs. Join our campaign to demand a new approach to drug policy.

The old parties are tripping if they think their drugs policies are working. Since the turn of the year, there have been tragic deaths at music festivals in Queensland and Victoria and, just this weekend, more than 20 overdoses at a Melbourne dance event.

The out-of-touch “tough on drugs” approach of the Liberal and Labor parties is failing young Australians, criminalising a health problem and killing people. It’s time for a complete re-think.

JOIN OUR CAMPAIGN

After decades of “war on drugs” failure, we need politicians to do what they’re paid to do: make laws that put people’s safety first. That’s why the Greens are campaigning to reform the government’s failed drug laws.

It’s time to get real about drugs. Our plan to “party smart, party safe, party on” calls for a realistic approach to drug policy. In particular, we will be supporting more pill testing, real-time reporting and the removal of sniffer dogs at music festivals and in our clubs. We are committed to harm reduction, not the continued punishment of drug users.

This is the first step in our campaign to change this country’s drug laws. In 2017, we will start a new conversation about drugs in clubs, at music festivals and events, online and in Canberra. Add your name to support our new campaign at drugs.org.au

JOIN OUR CAMPAIGN

We know young people will continue to experiment with drugs, so we can’t continue sticking our heads in the sand and pretend it’s not going to happen. What we need to do is give them the tools they need to make smart choices.

Only the Greens care about having an honest conversation about drugs to minimise harm and save lives. Please, join our campaign to treat drug use at the health issue that it is, rather than the criminal issue the other parties think it is.

Dr Richard Di Natale
Australian Greens Leader