Drug Treatments

70 The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (25 October 2018). Can the Attorney-General advise:

1. Is the projection of drug treatment assessments increasing by 50 over 2017-18 levels, while the program remains limited to 170, included in the impact of the measures contained within the Liberal election commitment 'Drug Treatment Orders'—and within the Controlled Substances (Youth Treatment Orders) Amendment Bill 2018—where a magistrate can issue drug treatment orders for a person under the age of 18?

2. What impact does the Attorney-General think this will have on numbers? Will they go up or down, and by how much?

3. Are any additional places being funded? If so, why wasn't that impact included in the figures?

4. Do these figures include the impact of measures contained within the Statutes Amendment (Drug Offences) Amendment Bill 2018 which limits the number of drug diversions to two in four years?

What impact does the Attorney-General think this will have on numbers? Will they go up or down, and by how much?

5. Why wasn't that impact included in the figures?

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer): The Attorney-General has provided the following advice:

1. to 3. These questions should be referred to the Minister for Health.

4. Drug diversions under the Controlled Substances Act are not related to drug treatment orders or assessments being created under the Controlled Substances (Youth Treatment Orders) Amendment Bill 2018.

The Statutes Amendment (Drug Offences) Amendment Bill 2018 will reduce the numbers of drug diversions by limiting them to two diversions in a four-year period. It is estimated this could result in a reduction of approximately 1,400 diversions per year, as detailed during committee stage of the bill in the Legislative Council.

5. See answer above.