Illicit Drugs

Mr GARDNER (Morialta) (14:46): My question is to the Minister for Police. Does the minister agree with the member for Fisher that:

…an overbearing police presence and zero-tolerance policies are forcing partygoers to take unnecessary risks, such as overloading on drugs…

The Hon. A. PICCOLO (Light—Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety) (14:47): I thank the honourable member for his question. The issue of drugs, whether it is drugs at an event or drugs in the community, does require a whole range of strategies to address. No single strategy can actually eliminate it. You may recall recently that the Prime Minister announced $600 million to deal with the issue of ice, and that is actually focused on harm minimisation.

Having said that, even though that is an important focus, we still take a lot of compliance activity within the police to make sure that we address the issue. I do not think anything the member for Fisher has said contradicts the principle I have just—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. A. PICCOLO: As I said at the outset, any issue dealing with drugs requires a range of strategies and some will require compliance, like police activity. Police will continue to have a presence. Secondly, there will be other programs as well to support it. What I have said is that I do not believe that we have an over presence by police. I think the police presence was appropriate.

The SPEAKER: I call to order the member for Schubert and I warn the member for Hartley and the member for Morialta.