Table of Contents  A Report based on the transcripts of the Parliamentarians' Inquiry and on papers presented to the 7th International Conference on the Reduction of Drug Related Harm Hobart, Tasmania 4 - 6 March 1996

Session Chairs:

Monday, 4 March 1996:
Mr Michael Moore, MLA

Tuesday, 5 March 1996:
The Honourable Ann Symonds, MLC

Wednesday, 6 March 1996:
The Honourable Mike Elliott, MLC

Panel Members on the Parliamentarians' Inquiry

Mr Neil Bell, MLA (ALP, Northern Territory)
The Honourable Mike Elliott, MLC (Australian Democrats, South Australia)
Mr Bryce Gaudry, MLA (ALP, New South Wales)
The Honourable Richard Jones, MLC (Australian Democrats, New South Wales)
The Honourable Alannah MacTiernan, MLC (ALP, Western Australia)
The Honourable Jean McLean, MLC (ALP, Victoria)
Mr Michael Moore, MLA (Independent, Australian Capital Territory)
The Honourable Kevin Rozzoli, MLA (Liberal, New South Wales)
The Honourable Ann Symonds MLC (ALP, New South Wales)
The Honourable John White, MHA (ALP, Tasmania)
  Compiled and edited by Ms Tina van Raay Secretary, Australian Parliamentary Group for Drug Law Reform Co-ordinator, Australian Drug Law Reform Foundation and Mr Ron Owens Former Secretary Australian Drug Law Reform Foundation June 1996

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The Australian Drug Law Reform Foundation would like to express its appreciation to the following people for their valued assistance in bringing the Parliamentarians' Inquiry to fruition:

Mr Bill Stronach (Conference Director) and Ms Caroline Thompson (Conference Manager) of the Australian Drug Foundation for facilitating the Parliamentarians' Inquiry as part of the 7th International Conference on the Reduction of Drug Related Harm.

Mr Pat O'Hare, Executive Director, 7th International Conference on the Reduction of Drug Related Harm.

Dr Alex Wodak (Conference Program Committee).

All the witnesses who gave of their time and voluntarily appeared before the Inquiry.
 

TABLE OF CONTENTS   

• Acknowledgments

  Preface

  Conclusions

CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION

• The Australian Parliamentary Group for Drug Law Reform
  Formation 
  The National Charter for Drug Law Reform 
  The Australian Drug Law Reform Foundation 
  Australian inquiries into illicit drug use and control
  The Inquiries 
  The Drug War: An exercise in futility 
  Prohibition and the health of the community 
  Prohibition and the increase in drug trafficking and use 
  Prohibition and the Criminal Justice System

CHAPTER 2 - THE ISSUES 

• Common goals 
  Questions posed by the International Narcotics Control Board 
  Economic costs 
  What will work?

CHAPTER 3 - LAW ENFORCEMENT OF PROHIBITION 

• Winning the war?
  Police corruption
  Conclusions

CHAPTER 4 - SOCIAL RAMIFICATIONS OF DRUG POLICIES AROUND THE WORLD

• The Netherlands
  Policies to continue
  Law enforcement and focus and training
  The International Treaties
  Research
  The cultural context
  Heroin use among the young declining
  Government support of policies
  Conclusions
  The United States of America
  The Bronx, New York, a neglected and persecuted region
  Harm minimisation through fear
  Proportion of New York Budget spent on law enforcement
  Drug policy: Race discrimination policy?
  Conclusions
  Canada
  Law enforcement and police powers
  HIV/AIDS and needle exchange
  Effects on racial minorities
  Conclusions
  Nepal
  Prohibition imposed in exchange for aid
  Harm reduction enforced
  Conclusions
  India
  Traditional use of drugs
  Pressure from the United States
  A breeding ground for corruption and increased population
  Implementation of drugs policy
  Conclusions
  Britain
  Policy by default
  Harm minimisation policies
  Conclusions
  Switzerland
  Heroin dosage declines over time on treatment programs
  Health and social benefits to dependent users and the general community
  Conclusions

CHAPTER 5 - THE NEED FOR HARM MINIMISATION IN PRISONS

• Canada prisons policy
  Harm minimisation needs in New South Wales prisons, Australia
  Harm minimisation in prisons
  Conclusions

CHAPTER 6 -PROHIBITION AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

• Dry communities: the problems
  The effects of disempowerment
  Mistrust of Government policies
  Conclusions

CHAPTER 7 - HARM MINIMISATION - CONCLUSIONS

• Introduction
  Expansion of methadone programs and needle exchanges
  Rehabilitation
  Education
  Scientific research
  Abolition of criminal sanctions for personal use
  Undermining the black market
  International Treaties
  A new approach

EPILOGUE

Appendices

• APPENDIX A
  Witnesses appearing before the Inquiry
  APPENDIX B
  THE NATIONAL CHARTER FOR DRUG LAW REFORM
  A Short Bibliography
   

EDITED TRANSCRIPTS OF PROCEEDINGS

• Witnesses appearing before the Inquiry
  Monday, 4 March 1996
  Tuesday, 5 March 1996
  Wednesday, 6 March 1996