NT's proposed drug legislation described as 'Nazi-labelling'
25 May 2002

The Australian Injecting and Illicit Drug Users League (AIIDUL) has described the Northern Territory Government's new drug legislation giving police greater powers to raid specific premises as Nazi-type labelling.

The legislation is expected to be debated in next month's Parliamentary sittings.

The AIIDUL says the Government's plans to place signs outside premises where illicit drugs are found could label innocent people.

AIIDUL spokeswoman Annie Madden says if one person is found in possession of drugs, the whole household's reputation could suffer.

"It's quite a medieval kind of approach, in fact someone here likened it to the pink triangle labelling during the Nazi Germany period," Ms Madden said.

"It's about saying publicly, stigmatising and labelling people, and as far as we are concerned that doesn't sit well with what we said is our approach to illicit drug use," she said.

NT Attorney-General Peter Toyne says the only way premises will be declared a drug house is if drugs are seized three or more times.

Mr Toyne says other evidence of dealing and manufacture will also be considered by the courts before any signs are put up.

"There will be signage put on the external doors of that dwelling so that anyone entering the building would have to be aware that that activity was going on and that the declaration had been made," Mr Toyne said.

** Editors Note: It is actually pronounced AIVL, the acronym for the Australian Illicit and Injecting Drug Users League.

http://www.aivl.org.au

Martin reaffirms zero tolerance despite smoking admission
16 May, 2002

The Northern Territory Chief Minister, Clare Martin, has defended her Government's zero-tolerance approach to drugs, despite telling the Parliament she has smoked marijuana.

Ms Martin has acknowledged previously she used the drug when she was younger.

Allow animation to load "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss" 'The Who' (Won't Get Fooled Again)

However, she says cannabis is much more dangerous now because it is hydroponic and stronger.

"Let me make it very clear... we have a zero tolerance policy towards these drugs... we have a zero tolerance policy towards the link between drug use and property crime," she said.

"I'm standing here as the parent of two adolescents and I'm saying my zero tolerance is very strong."

If, as Attorney-General Peter Toyne says, "...there is a very strong link between property crime and drug use with about half of of all property crime directly related to the use of drugs...", then there is a simple solution. Legalise the drugs.

Addiction is an illness, whether it is also a crime depends on the law. Tobacco is legal and it is a dangerous drug of addiction. If drugs are harder to get they will become dearer, requiring addicts to commit more crime to pay for them, not fewer.

As for "...compulsory treatment of addicts arrested on drug-related crimes...", perhaps the Attorney-General should proceed to a conviction first.

What is the "sound drug prevention strategy"? Has it worked anywhere else?

Dr Toyne may be disturbed that there is clear evidence that drug distribution is organised but most of us would be surprised if it wasn't.

Why has our prison population increased
by 50% in the last decade?

Presenter: John McNamara

Tuesday, 26 March  2002

The figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics show the prison population has jumped from just over 15 thousand in 1991 to nearly 22 and a half thousand in 2001.

One fifth of the prisoner population in June last year were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander despite the fact they make up just 2 percent of the total adult Australian population.

Professor Paul Moyle is with the Criminal Law Department of the University of Western Australia.