Premier Perrottet, this could be your first act of political courage

I wonder how many citizens of NSW realise that, for more than a decade now, we have had no formal drug and alcohol policy whatsoever. This issue has become extremely urgent.

In February 2020, after 14 months of receiving hundreds of detailed submissions and hearing vast amounts of evidence including from many experts as well as from communities and individuals across NSW, I delivered the four volume Report of the Special Commission of Inquiry into the Drug Ice to then premier Gladys Berejiklian.

The NSW government commissioned an inquiry into the drug ‘ice’ but has all but ignored its findings.

The landmark report of the inquiry provided a comprehensive blueprint for drug policy reform in NSW. Professor Alison Ritter of the UNSW Drug Policy Modelling Program said of it: “This has been a thorough, comprehensive review incorporating a range of expertise including from people with lived experience, clinicians, communities and academics … The 109 recommendations that the Commissioner has provided to the NSW Government provide the basis for NSW to be at the forefront of responding to drugs and reducing drug-related harm in NSW.”

The report has been widely embraced by the drug and alcohol sector as a powerful way forward. The NSW Bar Association has endorsed all 109 of the report’s recommendations. This month, the Royal Australian College of Physicians, the Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and the NSW branch of the Australian Medical Association issued a joint statement calling for a response to the report.

“We are calling on the state government to urgently respond to the recommendations, develop a whole-of-government alcohol and drug policy and drug action plan, significantly increase funding of alcohol and drug services and ensure personal addiction issues are treated as health and social issues, not as criminal ones,” the statement said.

After releasing a desultory “interim” response in February 2020 rejecting five of the 109 recommendations made in the report, the government stated that it would address the remaining 104 recommendations “before the end of the year” – but 2020 came and went with cabinet apparently unable to reach any agreed position. So in February 2021, I wrote a letter to premier Berejiklian in which I stated: “I write to express my deep disappointment that your government’s response, to my recommendations contained in my report of the Special Commission of Inquiry into the Drug Ice, has stalled. To all intents and purposes, the whole thing seems to have fallen into a ‘too hard’ basket and risks being forgotten altogether … I respectfully urge you, please don’t let this opportunity pass to make an important contribution to this most difficult and challenging of issues.”

Nearly 20 months after the inquiry’s report was delivered the government still has not responded to ... its remaining 104 recommendations.

I received Ms Berejiklian’s reply dated March 4 in which she wrote: “I am mindful of the importance of the issue, and appreciate the impact and harm illicit drugs have on individuals and families across NSW. While I appreciate your desire for government to respond to your report as quickly as possible, it is important that the response be carefully considered and meaningful … The NSW government is committed to delivering a fulsome response to the inquiry as soon as possible.”

In December last year, then treasurer, now Premier Dominic Perrottet said: “The ice inquiry was extensive and the government needs to take its time to get it right.”

So here we are – nearly 20 months after the inquiry’s report was delivered, the government still has not responded to the report and its remaining 104 recommendations.

The problems identified in my inquiry’s report are only worsening with the impacts of COVID-19 and will continue to worsen as long as the government ignores the imperative of genuine drug policy reform backed up by very substantial increases in the financial resources being allocated to the drug and alcohol sector.

What more does the government need? It commissioned the special commission of inquiry (which has cost taxpayers more than $10 million) which has produced a comprehensive blueprint for reform; its recommendations are in large measure supported by the key medical colleges engaged in drug and alcohol treatment and by the NSW Bar Association. What are we waiting for?

I call on the new Premier to show some political courage and leadership by responding to and implementing the report’s recommendations without further delay.