Liberal backbenchers seek rethink on drugs
A group of Liberal backbenchers says the ‘war on drugs’ has been lost.
Victorian MP Tim Wilson is among a group of Liberal backbenchers calling for an overhaul of drug policy, declaring the “war on drugs” had been lost and pill testing trials should be considered.
The member for Goldstein said a “head-in-the-sand approach” to dealing with drugs had left behind “stories of human wreckage” and was a futile as alcohol prohibition.
Mr Wilson’s comments come as Queensland MP Warren Entsch urges Scott Morrison to chair a national drugs summit with state governments, while NSW conservative MP Craig Kelly said decriminalisation should be considered.
“It’s been clear to me for years that we had a war on drugs, and the drugs won,” Mr Wilson told The Australian.
“Like alcohol prohibition fails, a head-in-the-sand approach doesn’t work and leaves behind stories of human wreckage; many who are completely innocent like family and friends.”
The former Australian Human Rights commissioner backed the Prime Minister for saying nothing should be off the table in stopping people dying from taking drugs.
He said it was time for a “mature national conversation” so people don’t die from drugs “just because of the ingredients”.
“Programs like pill testing shouldn’t be assumed simplistically as the solution, but nor should community-based and run trials be immediately dismissed if our objective is to keep kids alive,” Mr Wilson said.
As pressure builds on political leaders to respond to deaths from bad ecstasy pills, Mr Morrison yesterday said the government would do “everything within our power to keep our kids safe”.
“As a parent, these things always cause you great anxiety,” Mr Morrison said.
“As parents, it is the best job in the world, but it is also the hardest job in the world. You love your kids and you want them to be safe.”
Mr Morrison said he had never taken illicit drugs, following NSW Greens MP Cate Faehrmann admitting to using ecstasy into her 40s.
Bill Shorten said he “might have done something” in his university years.
“I would make it very clear, I don’t support taking illegal drugs,” the Opposition Leader said.
Mr Entsch, who was with Mr Morrison in Cairns yesterday, said pill testing should be on the table but he was not convinced it was the right answer.
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