Introduction

Labor is committed to being both tough on crime, and tough on the causes of crime. We need more than a "one shot in the locker" approach to dealing with rising criminal activity across the Territory.

There is indisputable evidence flowing in from Australian and international studies that one of the key factors lying behind increased property crime is misuse of illegal drugs, particularly opiates.

The issue is simple: if Government wants to reduce property crime in the Territory you must deal at all levels with the intravenous drug use problem and hard drugs.

Territorians have been let down by the CLP's failure to acknowledge and respond to a growing incidence of intravenous drug use within our community. In fact the alarming increase in intravenous drug use in the Territory over the last 5 years is testament to the CLP government's failure to enforce existing legislation.

Labor's priorities in relation to the misuse of drugs in the Territory are:

• A law enforcement strategy of zero tolerance on drug production and distribution.
• Compulsory treatment of addicts arrested on drug related crimes.
• A properly resourced drug prevention strategy, including family support policies and education campaigns directed at our schools.

Labor has applied these priorities in developing its drugs and crime strategy. Labor is serious about tackling the hard issues facing our society to deliver the outcome Territorians want -- a safer community.

Current situation

Drug addiction is devastating for the individual, for their family and for the community.

Territory MS Contin Prescriptions

Source: Northern Territory Drug Trends 2000, NTU

Figures from the Health Insurance Commission (HIC) detailed the prescription of morphine in the NT reached almost 15 times greater than the national average in 1999 before dropping back to currently around 7 times greater than the national average. This decline in what is still a huge problem was as a result of intervention by the HIC alarmed by the huge rates of prescriptions. Each and every one of the 436 000 morphine tablets prescribed in the NT in 1999 were reported to the Government who sat back and did nothing to stem the tide of morphine swamping predominantly Darwin and Palmerston.

Statistics compiled by the Aids Council showed the vast majority of morphine being prescribed is being used as a heroin substitute.

Syringes/Needles Issued in Darwin

Source: Northern Teritory Aids Council

This alarming increase in the rate of morphine being prescribed was shadowed by an equally alarming increase in the numbers of needles being dispensed by the needle syringe program run by the Aids Council. There was a 414% increase in the numbers of needles dispensed under this program between 1994-95 and 1999-00. 460 000 needles were dispensed from the Darwin clinic in 1999-00. In spite of all the evidence from both prescriptions of morphine being reported to the Government and the huge increase in needles being dispensed the Government did nothing.

Estimates vary regarding the number of regular injecting drug users in the Teritory. The largest number are concentrated in the Darwin/Palmerston area with estimates ranging between 1 200 and 2 000.

Further alarming studies from a recent report Northern Territory Drug Trends 2000 - Findings of the Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS) compiled by the School of Humanities and Social Science, NTU, show increasing use of not only morphine but amphetamines.

The research showed that the cost of morphine on Darwin's streets was rising commensurate with the decline of supply since the HIC crackdown, however 54% of user respondents to the survey stated morphine was either very easy or easy to obtain.

The Territory also has a growing amphetamine problem and it is likely that new injecting drug users will use amphetamines as the first drug they inject. 84% of user respondents stated that amphetamines were either very easy or easy to obtain. Alarmingly statistics from the aids council needle exchange program and the IDRS survey show a large increase in the last 12 months of amphetamine use in Darwin, especially among young people and Indigenous people.

Today, especially in the Darwin and Palmerston region, but also in Alice Springs all the evidence shows that increasing numbers of people are injecting drugs, predominantly amphetamines and morphine and these drugs are easy to obtain.

The Commonwealth has a number of programs designed to tackle the drug crime problem. $57 million in grants has been distributed to non-government organisations under advice from the National Council on Drugs.

The Commonwealth Government is establishing a national system of diverting illicit drug users into compulsory expert assessment and on to necessary education and treatment.

Despite claims that this approach is supported by State and Territory governments, the NT Government has not put any strategies in place to tap into the Commonwealth funding in co-operation with Territory non-government organisations.

The Link to Crime…

The links between illegal intravenous drug use and crime, especially property crime are well documented and universally acknowledged.

A recently published study by the Australian Institute of Criminology on 4 May 2000 stated:

• …the results confirm that there is a very strong link between opiate use and property crimes. Of those detainees whose most serious charge was a property offence, 43% tested positive for opiates. The link between illicit drugs and criminal offending is very strong for all crimes.

The Australian Institute of Criminology also reported recently:

In several jurisdictions where surveys were recently done, 86% of adult males detained on property offences tested positive to a drug of some type (excluding tobacco and alcohol).

Yet in August last year in Parliament in answer to a question on drug related property crime the Chief Minister admitted:

• There is drug-related crime in the Northern Territory, there is no doubt about that, but compared to other jurisdictions it is miniscule.

The Chief Minister produced no statistics to back up his assertion that drug-related crime was "miniscule". Nor do Police Annual Reports publish any data on drug-related crimes. Territorians are simply expected to take the Chief Minister's comments at face value, despite significant evidence to the contrary from findings interstate.

The recently published Northern Territory Drug Trends 2000 report also indicates strong links between amphetamine and morphine use and property crime.

The price of morphine in particular on Darwin's streets has escalated in the last 12 months. The NT Drug Trends 2000 report shows that most users in Darwin spend between $100 and $200 a day to support their habit. With the vast majority of these users unemployed it is obvious that a substantial amount of property crime is being committed to feed their addiction. In 1999-00, reported offences in the Northern Territory rose by 22%.

The issue is simple: if Government wants to reduce property crime in the Territory then you must deal at all levels with the intravenous drug use problem and hard drugs.

Labor's 3 Point Plan to Get Tough on Drugs…

Point 1 - A Law Enforcement Strategy Of Zero Tolerance On Drug Production And Distribution

As a community, we must be prepared to resource our Police and Courts which operate on the front line to get those who are behind the hard drug trade behind bars.

Labor will:

(a) Crack down on drug traffickers, dealers and manufacturers

Although the number of drug-related apprehensions increased in 1999-00 over 1998-99, the volume of drug seizures remains low. Only 1 gram of heroin was seized by the police, and the equivalent of just 130 MS Contin tablets despite the issue of almost half a million tablets on prescription.

(b) Double the Drug Squad resources from 20 to 40 officers

Currently the Police Drug Enforcement Unit consists of 20 officers for the entire Northern Territory. Given the results outlined above, and from advice received from within the Police Force itself, this number is inadequate to effectively enforce the drug laws. Labor will provide the right resources to the Police to do the job required, as part of its overall strategy to increase Police numbers.

This initiative will be complemented by federal Labor's commitment to increase Australian Federal Police numbers and place them in State and Territory police stations. This will enable them to work closely with Territory police to collect more street level information with an emphasis on catching the professional criminals in charge of and profiting from drug trafficking.

(c) Give Police targeted powers to attack drug trafficking and dealing

Labor will ensure the criminal code with respect to drug manufacture, distribution and supply of hard drugs is tightened to allow Police to act with confidence, and result in successful prosecutions.

In particular Labor will introduce similar laws to those proposed in NSW, allowing Police to crack down on "drug houses" and other centres of supply, such as nightclubs. Darwin and Alice Springs are still relatively small cities. Many of us know of houses in our own neighbourhoods where drugs are sold, yet raids on these homes, if they occur at all, rarely result in arrests.

Under Labor's laws, Police will be able to arrest:

• those people operating as look-outs or guards of suspected drug houses;
• anyone entering or leaving a suspected drug house, unless they can establish a legal purpose for doing so;
• landlords and owners of properties who knowingly allow their properties to be used as distribution centres; and
• those who assist in the organisation of a drug house or distribution point.

While those powers with respect to aiding and abetting the conduct of any crime currently exist in NT legislation, Labor will introduce legislative changes to ensure that there is clear, unambiguous clauses specific to the drug trade.

Further, Police will be given the power to detain an individual for the purpose of having a medical practitioner examine the person for drugs where it is suspected these have been swallowed or concealed.

(d) Recover the profits from drug traffickers by strengthening the Crimes (Forfeiture of Proceeds) Act

Under Labor, drug traffickers will not profit from the proceeds of their evil trade.

To the best of Labor's knowledge Crimes (Forfeiture of Proceeds) Act has rarely been used in respect of convicted drug traffickers in the Territory. Part of the problem is the law is cumbersome in its application. There is also a lack of political will from the current Government to address the issue.

Various other jurisdictions have similar laws. The recent WA legislation is seen as best practice in this regard. Labor will rewrite the law, and ensure it is applied. Labor will apply the powers available under the legislation to ensure convicted drug traffickers will be stripped of their assets.

Labor will stop those who are pushing drugs being able to profit from their activities, rather than contributing toward the costs being borne by society through their actions.

(e) Establish New Drug Courts to tackle drug-related crimes

Labor's Drug Court will require the compulsory treatment and rehabilitation of drug addicts. Similar Courts already exist in most other Australian jurisdictions and research shows the courts can be effective at addressing the problems of drugs and crime in the community and preventing repeat offences. (Further details on the referral of addicts for treatment and rehabilitation are contained under point 2 below.)

In addition, the Drug Court will develop the knowledge and experience to hear cases related to the trafficking and manufacture of drugs, to maximise the apprehension and conviction of those behind the drug industry in our community.

(f) Implement strategies to keep Prescription Drugs off our Streets

Labor will implement an internet based register for the prescription and dispensing of Schedule 8 drugs. The patient will be required to enter a contract with his / her doctor. Real time recording of prescribing and dispensing of Schedule 8 drugs to the register will prevent doctor shopping for these drugs.

A key recommendation of the S8 Working Party response to the August 2000 Coroner's report on the deaths of two people from morphine overdoses was the implementation of "real time monitoring of Schedule 8 Scripts". The S8 Report determined that the high level of opiate prescribing can be attributed in part to "the lack of real time monitoring (of S8 Scripts) secondary to appallingly resourced Poisons Branch bereft of appropriate IT technology."

While there is a voluntary contract arrangement between those who are dispensed Schedule 8 drugs and their doctors in place now, Labor will make this a compulsory requirement. These contracts will be recorded immediately on computer, so that the information is available to any GP through their own computer terminal.

Most Doctor's surgeries have computer and internet facilities. So too do dispensing pharmacies. The scheme can therefore be implemented at relatively little cost, although Labor will provide obsolete public service computers to surgeries and pharmacies to enable the scheme to operate effectively if required.

Point 2 - Compulsory Treatment Of Addicts Arrested On Drug-Related Crimes

(a) Drug Courts will be empowered to require addicts to undertake rehabilitation and treatment programs immediately after arrest

The Drug Court will operate at the Magistrate level in both Darwin and Alice Springs. At the preliminary hearing, the Court will have the power to require suspects to commence rehabilitation and treatment services prior to trial as a condition of bail.

All treatment and support requirements, including the need for random urine testing and supervision by Drug Court case managers will be conditions of bail. Breaches of bail conditions and further use of drugs or re-offending will lead directly to, imprisonment. Successful completion of the program - which typically takes up to twelve months - will be taken into consideration at the time the offender is sentenced.

The move recognises that the criminal justice system has unique ability to influence a person shortly after arrest, and therefore persuade or compel that person to enter and remain in treatment. Overseas research shows that a person who is required to enter treatment by the courts is likely to do as well as one who volunteers for treatment.

So that arrest may act as a catalyst for change, it is preferable that offenders are referred to the court as soon as possible. Police will have a crucial role to identify potential candidates and hasten the normal processes to ensure that offenders are before the Drug Court on the next working day following arrest.

If found guilty at the trial, the Magistrate will be able to take into account the offender's adherence to the treatment and rehabilitation program when setting the sentence. If the nature of the crime on which the person is convicted requires a custodial sentence, then the treatment and rehabilitation program will continue in prison.

Drug Courts are not a "soft option. Offenders with drug abuse problems often move through the criminal justice system in a predictable pattern of arrest, prosecution, sentence, incarceration and release. The court process can take up to several months during which time the person continues to abuse drugs and commit crime. A person's drug-abuse problems may go unidentified in the correctional system and within days of release, the person is likely to again abuse drugs, re-offend and repeat the process.

The Drug Court will be designed to provide immediate and strict responses to offenders who are accepted into the program. Typical sanctions will include:

• weekly court appearances
• random and frequent urine analysis testing
• daily supervision by Corrections case managers
• home detention and curfews
• community service options and fines
• remand in custody

(b) Labor will provide effective services for treatment and rehabilitation in Darwin and Alice Springs to reduce the amount of intravenous drug use in the community

The only drug rehabilitation centre in Darwin is Banyan House. Despite the best efforts of its dedicated staff, this shockingly run down facility cannot cope with demand for its services. Some estimates indicate the number of injecting drug users in the Territory may be as high as 2 000. Until we can accurately determine the number of intravenous drug users, it is difficult to estimate the resources that will be required. Following appropriate research, Labor provide additional resources in Darwin, and establish a suitable treatment centre in the Alice Springs region.

The rehabilitation of drug addicts has to be de-politicised. Unless a range of rehabilitation options and services are available, addicts will continue to use and continue to commit crimes to feed their habits.

Under Labor, doctors will be able to treat addicts with any pharmacological intervention approved by the Commonwealth. This includes use of the newly listed buprenorphine and naltrexone. Buprenorphine is now seen as being far superior to existing treatments. The results of a Melbourne study last year found 86% of addicts treated with buprenorphine completed a detoxification program, compared with 57% given standard treatment.

Doctors will be able to manage their patients along evidence-based best practice clinical guidelines. This will undoubtedly see a vast reduction in the amount of morphine being prescribed.

Point 3 - A Properly Resourced Drug Prevention Strategy

Drug Prevention, Education and Family Support Services

As a society, we must do our utmost to discourage our children and youth from viewing drug use as an attractive option. Governments can help in this process, but it also requires the vigilance and participation of parents. Peer pressure is also acknowledged as an important influence on the behaviour of young people.

Labor supports appropriate advertising campaigns warning of the dangers of drug abuse. For its part, a Labor Government will put in place effective programs to be delivered through our schools and youth centres aimed at preventing young people from experimenting with hard drugs. We also need to examine other ways of delivering the anti-drugs message, such as our cinemas and television.

Labor's overall vision for families was spelt out in our New Directions paper on Families released in May last year. Labor acknowledges that without effective families, many of our children will resort to drug taking at some point in their lives. Effective families in turn depend on a feeling of material security, as well as access to support and advice when they need it, in a form that is appropriate to their needs.

To this end Labor will establish an Office of Children and Families within the Chief Minister's Department to better coordinate the policies of Government Agencies (including Territory Health Services, Education, Aboriginal Development, the Office of Women's Policy and Youth Affairs) and those of non-Government organisations that are often at the forefront of delivering family support services.

Building A Safer Community: Tough On Drugs - Fact Sheet

Building A Safer Community: Tough On Drugs - Media Statement