Controlled Substances (Simple Possession Offences) Amendment Bill

Second Reading

Adjourned debate on second reading.

(Continued from 13 October 2015.)

The Hon. J.A. DARLEY (16:08): I rise to speak very briefly on the Controlled Substances (Simple Possession Offences) Amendment Bill. The bill, as we know, is intended to address an anomalous application of the Police Drug Diversion Initiative (PDDI) which operates under the Controlled Substances Act 1984 to divert people charged with simple possession offences away from the criminal justice system into drug assessment for counselling and/or treatment.

Members interjecting:

The ACTING PRESIDENT (Hon. J.S.L. Dawkins): Order! I cannot hear the Hon. Mr Darley.

The Hon. J.A. DARLEY: According to the government, often where a person is apprehended for manufacturing illicit drugs, they are often also found to have a small amount of the drug in their personal possession and, therefore, are also charged with simple possession. I do not think it was ever intended that a person apprehended in these circumstances would be able to be diverted under the PDDI scheme, and it is this anomaly that the bill seeks to rectify. This is certainly a measure I support.

Whilst the drug diversion initiative plays an important role in terms of drug assessment and treatment, it is not there to be taken advantage of, especially by those offenders who manufacture illicit drugs for sale. With that, I support the second reading of the bill.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. D.G.E. Hood.