[Greens-Media] All parties should co-operate in fight against drugs - Greens

[Bennett, Ebony (Sen B. Brown)]

Monday, April 23, 2007

All parties should co-operate in fight against drugs - Greens

Greens Leader Bob Brown today called on all parties to put aside
politics to tackle drug use in Australia.

"All the parties agree that a combination of education for parents and
the public, greater access to health care and rehabilitation for drug
users and strong 
penalties for drug dealers is the best way to minimise illicit drug use
in the Australian community," Senator Brown said.

"The alarming statistics that one in ten Australians have tried 'ice'
and close to 75,000 people are addicted to methamphetamines including
'ice', means it is time all parties stopped playing politics with drugs
and worked together to tackle the problem."

Senator Brown said the Greens backed both the Coalition and Labor's
recent policy announcements to tackle the 'ice' problem and welcomed the
Prime Minister's focus on improving access to treatment and
rehabilitation for drug users. He also said that Family First's policy
of 'prevention, rehabilitation and avoidance' dovetailed with all the
other parties' support for harm minimisation."

"Under the Greens' drugs policy, drug dealers would face the full force
of the law. But, like the head of the Australian National Council on
Drugs, John Herron, the Greens believe that addiction is a medical
problem that is best treated in the health system. We welcome the
government's $80 million commitment to treatment programs," Senator
Brown said.

"Substance abuse ruins lives, families and communities. All political
parties should be working together to combat the problem," Senator Brown
said.

Further information: Ebony Bennett 0409 164 603

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Ebony Bennett
Media Adviser
Office of Greens Senator Bob Brown
Mobile: 0409 164 603
Ph: (02) 6277 3170
Fax: (02) 6277 3185
ebony.bennett at aph.gov.au