[Greens-Media] Drugs council better guide than politically warped committee on drugs - Greens

[Bennett, Ebony (Sen B. Brown)]

Friday, 14 September 2007

Drugs council better guide than politically warped committee on drugs -
Greens

The National Council on Drugs' much greater experience with Australian
drug problems is in stark contrast to the extremist position taken by
Bronwyn Bishop's committee majority in its report released yesterday,
Greens leader Bob Brown said today.

"Less than a fortnight ago the experts on drug use, the Australian
National Drugs Council, called for increased funding for treatment and
diversion programs for drug users to build on the demonstrable success
of harm-minimisation approaches," Senator Brown said.

"Tough policing to curb the drug trade combined with harm minimisation
strategies have led to a huge fall in morbidity from drug addiction and
associated crime. The zero tolerance approach, including forced
adoptions of the children of addicted parents, as outlined by Ms Bishop,
appears to disregard the punishing effects on children whose interests
should be paramount," Senator Brown said.

"Irreversible damage to children can come from forced separation from
parents as well as failure to deal with parental addiction. History has
shown that policies such as forced adoptions, prohibition and zero
tolerance create problems rather than solve them," Senator Brown said. 

The Australian Greens do not support the legalisation of currently
illegal drugs and support criminal penalties for drug dealers. The
Greens drugs policy is available at:
http://greens.org.au/election/policy.php	

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	

Visit Bob's new myspace site at:
www.myspace.com/bobbrowngreens