Berejiklian says she does not support drug decriminalisation in NSW

Premier Gladys Berejiklian has said she does not support the decriminalisation of drugs and “nor does my government”.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian has said she does not support the decriminalisation of drugs and “nor does my government”.

“We will not be decriminalising drugs. That is not the approach we take. Drugs are a scourge on our community,” she said.

“We have received recommendations from the ice inquiry and we will respond to those.

“I can’t be clearer than that. I don’t support it and my government will not be going down that path.”

When asked if she would rule out letting someone off on a warning — a matter her cabinet discussed on Monday — Ms Berejiklian replied: “well I will say this when you’re dealing with those issues are very complex … but I want to make very clear the assertion’s been made we are decriminalising drugs that is not the case at all.”

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, NSW chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant and NSW Minister for Health and Medical Research Brad Hazzard at a press conference this morning. Picture: Getty Images

Asked if she was considering diversion strategies she said “I think for children I think for young people there’s options there. But I want to be clear … we will maintain our tough stance on drugs”.

When Health Minister Brad Hazzard was asked if he supported changes to drug possession laws, he said he supported that the cabinet had “24 very good ministers who represent a broad range of community views”.

“They have those discussions and they have them in confidence and quiet so they can come out with a sensible resolution. From my point of view as a cabinet minister who is sworn to secrecy in those discussions I will leave those matters for the cabinet to resolve.”

When asked if he was worried the split could “go the same way as the Koala problem,” Mr Hazzard said “we work very well together”.

‘WE CAN’T GO SOFT’: NATS’ ANGER AT DRUGS PLAN

The Deputy Premier has vowed to stand in the way of a state government plan to let drug takers escape penalties for personal use.

Cabinet broadly agreed to a proposal brought by Attorney-General Mark Speakman on Monday night, which would effectively decriminalise small quantities of all illicit drugs — although the AG himself objects to the use of that terminology.

Under the proposal, it is understood drug users would be first given warnings and unenforceable infringement notices before facing criminal penalties on their fourth offence.

But Deputy Premier John Barilaro slammed the plan on breakfast radio this morning, telling 2GB’s Ben Fordham that while the matter was still in its infancy, he would fight against it.

“I can promise you this, we’re not going soft on crime,” he said.

“We’ll continue to make sure when it comes to drug dealers in this state that they get the maximum penalty thrown at them.

“The last thing I would want to see is a softening on anything to do with drugs in this state.”

The Nationals leader said he had seen increases in drug use in regional towns and attributed that in part to government payments.

“I’ve got to say it, even with the Job Seeker payments I believe some of that money has gone to more drugs in the regions.”

“I know there are progressives out there that’ll say ‘this is actually a good way of doing it, you normalise it, it doesn’t become as exciting’.

“Well I don’t agree because the impacts are real. We cannot go soft on drugs at all.”

Former NSW Labor Premier Kristina Keneally also hinted she thought the plan was too radical, urging the state government to “slow down”.

Deputy Premier John Barilaro. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

Former NSW Premier Kristina Keneally’s warning: Slow down. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

“I’m not a health expert … but I really think we need to listen to some experts here,” she said on Thursday morning.

“I’m not yet convinced that what I see on the front page of the Tele is the right way forward.”

Ms Keneally said she’s “highly concerned” about the decimalisation of drugs in other countries overseas and the message that it sends to young people.

“Particularly on developing brains,” she said.

“I would strongly urge the cabinet to slow down and listen to some experts.”

A NSW Government spokesman last night said: “the NSW Government is still considering its response to the Ice Inquiry, however it does not plan to decriminalise possession of illicit drugs”.

Police Minister David Elliott. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Christian Gilles

Attorney-General Mark Speakman. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

Mr Speakman’s plan, which was supported by multiple ministers including Gareth Ward, sparked horror from conservative Ministers and the Nationals, who believed the policy would give the appearance of the being soft on crime.

The Daily Telegraph has confirmed with several cabinet Ministers that Mr Speakman pitched the idea to his colleagues as a money saver, by unclogging the courts. “It should have been badged a treasury submission, not a cabinet submission,” one said.

Multiple Ministers confirmed Police Minister David Elliott spoke at length in the cabinet meeting, begging his colleagues to abandon the idea. One said he was “heartbroken”.

NSW Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services Gareth Ward. Picture: AAP Image/Joel Carrett

He said words to the effect of “setting aside the fact I’m a father, it’s bad policy”.

Mr Elliott told colleagues it would hurt the police, and anger the government’s voter base including in Western Sydney and in the bush.

Deputy Premier John Barilaro led Nationals’ fury at the plan, questioning how it would translate in ice-riddled communities while giving the government the appearance of being soft on criminal activity.

Conservative Finance Minister Damien Tudehope spoke out, as did Nationals Mental Health Minister Bronnie Taylor. A number of ministers told The Telegraph said the policy would not pass the party room.

As news of the plan broke last night on Seven News, multiple backbenchers were ringing ministers to complain, paving the way for a messy government ideological split.

One said “Mark Speakman should lose his job over this”.

It has shades of another deeply divisive debate after abortion legislation plagued the government in 2019.

In selling the plan to his colleagues, Mr Speakman said “it is not legalising drugs, it’s not decriminalising drugs, it’s not normalising drugs”, saying it was purely a method to unclog the courts.

A majority of the members of cabinet backed the plan, which will return to Cabinet on December 14 before going to party room next year.

Dad’s outrage at new plan

The father of drug overdose victim Anna Wood has condemned the push to effectively decriminalise drug use and possession in NSW.

“I’m really, really angry, we need to be protecting our kids and teaching them drug use is not an option,” Mr Wood, who lost his 15-year-old daughter when she overdosed on a single ecstasy tablet in 1995, told The Daily Telegraph.

Anna Wood died from an ecstasy overdose at a Sydney rave.

Tony Wood lost his daughter Anna to an ecstasy overdose. Picture: Richard Dobson

“We can’t be encouraging it and telling them they’ll get three tries before they’re punished … (cabinet’s) stepping on Anna’s grave.”

Mr Wood, from Collaroy, has spent 25 years campaigning against illegal drug use and said he “couldn’t believe” state cabinet could consider legalising drugs, including the MDMA which killed his little girl.

He said the government’s push to go soft on drug possession was an “insult” to his daughter’s memory.

“We need to get tougher, not just give up,” he said.

“We need to prioritise the health of our kids.”

Originally published as Berejiklian says she does not support drug decriminalisation in NSW