Media release: Johnny's brave new world.

Members of the Northern Territory's Network Against Prohibition are outraged at the announcement from John Howard of his plan to quarantine the welfare payments of drug offenders, but this shouldn't really come as a surprise to anyone in the Northern Territory.

We are often used by Government departments as a test case for new schemes. With our small population, they figure less people will be adversely affected if they get it wrong.

With the recent Federal intervention into Aboriginal affairs came the beginning of the quarantine test.

It is now planned to extend the scheme to drug offenders Australia wide.

The Network Against Prohibition supports the following statement from the Australian Injecting and Illicit Drug Users League (AIVL), the national organisation representing people who use or have used illicit drugs "This proposal is unfair and inequitable. It is based on the politics of exclusion" said Ms Louise Grant, AIVL's President. "All of the candidates in this federal election, including the Government have talked about the importance of creating an inclusive community but this announcement by the Federal Government is the exact opposite of this. It is targeting some of the most vulnerable and marginalised people in our community and seeking to make their lives much harder at the worst possible time".

Both research evidence and experience show that punitive legal measures have almost no impact when it comes to preventing continued illicit drug use among people convicted of drug related offences. "The announcement by the Prime Minister will not stop people using illicit drugs, it will simply mean that people will be forced to take even more risks than they currently do to obtain money for their drug use" Ms Grant stated.

Spokesperson for the Network Against Prohibition, Robert Fyffe said, "Who's next? Single mothers? Old Age and Disability pensioners (to stop them blowing all their money on the pokies)?"

"Eventually, everyone who's financially dependent on the Government welfare system will be subject to a level of scrutiny that should not be acceptable in a civilized society." he added.

Quarantine of welfare should only be available as a voluntary option for welfare recipients who wish to make use of the scheme as part of their own self-control program. It should not be enforced discriminatorily on any sector of the population.

This is all part of John Howard's Americanisation of the Australian system.

Do we really want to take the lead from the USA on such socially divisive policy?

The Darwin-based Network Against Prohibition is calling on drug law-reform activists around the country to work together to rid Australia of the Coalition scourge.

This Government CAN NOT be allowed to run another term.

For more information or to arrange an interview, please ring NAPNT on (08) 8941 9921