NT drugs bill under fire

The Australian Drug Law Reform Foundation says the Misuse of Drugs Act due to be tabled in the Northern Territory Parliament today will do nothing to stop the production, distribution and consumption of drugs.

The Labor Government says the Bill will stamp out drug dealing in the Northern Territory by removing the profit incentive for dealers with increased law enforcement.

Dr Alex Wodak says what the Government is proposing has been tried around the world for decades without success and is now considered draconian by many countries.

"More and more people are coming to the conclusion, as President George W Bush did himself in February this year that if there's demand for drugs there's always going to be a supply," he said. "What we really need to do is work on the demand end of the equation.

"We shouldn't give up on the supply side but we have to regard this as primarily a health and social issue rather than primarily a law enforcement problem."

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: 15th May 2002
Source: Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Website: http://www.abc.net.au
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Copyright: 2002 Australian Broadcasting Corporation