Our Vision
To halve crime by taking control of the illicit drug trade, cutting back gambling and reducing problem drinking.
Download our Action Plan (pdf)
Taking Control
Controlled Government Sale to Registered Users
Almost half of all crime is caused by alcohol and illicit drug use according to the government’s recent National Drug Strategy study. We propose that the government take control of the drug trade, selling selected clean, uncontaminated drugs to registered users while providing treatment programs to get the registered users off the drugs forever.
Cutting Back Gambling
We would limit poker machine bets to 50c and consult with gambling addiction recovery professionals to develop other measures to reduce problem gambling without impinging on the rights of responsible gamblers.
Controlling Alcohol
We propose making liquor licensing fees much more expensive for premises wanting to serve high-alcohol drinks while cutting licensing fees required for only selling low-alcohol products. We also support more restrictions on alcohol advertising.
The Failure of Attempted Prohibition
After decades of prohibition anyone who wants illicit drugs can still easily obtain them. Attempted prohibition really means “Uncontrolled Criminal Supply”. Surely its time to look for a new tactic in the war on drugs.
Countries Using Prescribed Heroin
We should join the list of countries using Prescribed Heroin:
* Switzerland – major success with 70% public support.
* Netherlands.
* Germany.
* United Kingdom.
* Denmark.
* Canada – trials only.
* Belgium – trials only.
Uncontrolled Criminal Supply
Prohibition is supported by all major political parties* but causes many problems:
Uncontrolled Supply: Drugs are supplied to anyone including children and the mentally ill.
Uncontrolled Quantity: Criminals are happy to supply as much as you can pay for.
Active Promotion: Use of drugs by new and existing users is actively encouraged by suppliers. There is a very strong incentive to get new users hooked on drugs.
High Availability: Illicit drugs are available throughout Australia including in high security prisons.
Zero Quality Control: Impurities and the concentration of drugs is left to criminal suppliers.
High Crime Rates: Users often need to commit crimes to pay for the drugs.
High Corruption: A vast amount of cash is available to corrupt law enforcement personnel and politicians.
Needle-stick risk: Used syringes present a risk to the general population.
High Health Risks: Communicable diseases such as HIV, Tuberculosis and Hepatitis can thrive in the drug dependent population if it is closed off from regular health services.
Making Drugs Harmful: Drugs such as MDMA which are mixed with toxic chemicals are supplied in a hazardous form because they are illegal.
* The Greens Drugs, Substance Abuse and Addiction Policy supports limited decriminalisation of some drug use and ‘safe’ injecting rooms. However this would have little effect on the illicit drug trade.
Controlled Government Supply to Registered Users
Controlled government supply would radically improve the situation, both reducing drug use and reducing the harm inflicted by drugs:
Controlled Supply: Heroin, cocaine, marijuana and possibly some amphetamines would be supplied to proven existing users. All drugs would be supplied with extensive ‘how to quit’ information and offers of counselling and rehabilitation.
Controlled Quantity: Drugs would be supplied in strictly limited quantities to reduce overdose risks and help ease users off the drugs.
Active Discouragement: Government supply agencies would continually encourage existing users to quit and would not supply new users. There would be no incentive to get new users hooked on drugs as the user could then just get them from the government.
Low Availability: Government supply only to registered users.
High Quality Control: Manufacture and distribution of all drugs would be highly regulated. There would be no harmful impurities.
Low Crime Rates: The price of the drugs would be set so that users would not need to commit crimes to pay for the drugs. Crime rates should reduce by up to 50%.
Low Corruption: With the collapse of the illicit drug trade there would be much less corruption
No needle-stick risk: Only safety syringes would be supplied with injectable drugs.
Reduced Health Risks: Communicable diseases that exist in today’s drug dependent population would be brought under increased control as users’ lives were stabilised.
Making Drugs Safer: Drugs such as MDMA could be supplied to registered 18+ users in a clean, low-dose form.
Implementation
Registration of Users: Users would be able to buy their drugs from the government after proving they were already addicted. Eligibilty and other details of the registration and supply process would be developed by a panel of medical and addiction recovery professionals.
Delivery: A public inquiry involving medical and addiction recovery professionals would determine the safest and most cost effective means to source, deliver and administer each type of prescribed drug.
Early Intervention
We support early intervention programs, especially those that target disadvantaged families.
“It is very doubtful if such prohibition has lessened to an extent the amount which is brought into Australia …Owing to total prohibition, the price of opium has risen enormously … the Commonwealth gladly gave up about £60,000 revenue with a view to a suppression of the evil, but the result has not been what has been hoped for. What now appears to be the effect of total prohibition is that, while we have lost the duty, the opium is still imported freely.”
