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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2010-05-25 Daily Xml
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DRUG PARAPHERNALIA

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (15:13): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the minister representing the Minister for Police a question about the continued sale of drug paraphernalia in South Australia.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD: In 2008 this parliament, at the instigation of the Hon. Ann Bressington, as I recall, implemented a ban on the sale of bongs and other drug paraphernalia in the Summary Offences (Drug Paraphernalia) Amendment Bill. Members might recall that a store on Hindley Street (called Off Ya Tree) continued to sell bongs after the relevant amendment passed this place. It became obvious that it had quite simply just relabelled their bongs in the shop as water pourers and then kept them on the shelves and continued to sell them.

According to reports at this time, police visited the store and removed the bongs from the shelves. However, for some unknown reason, I am informed that no charges were laid. Whilst the store has now taken the bongs off the shelves, I am informed, I was surprised to note that this company continues to skirt the law by now simply selling the same bongs online. At their website the company is offering to ship what they openly describe as bongs and water pipes to South Australian addresses.

It also sells a wide range of other nefarious products such as items they describe as 'party pills' at about $10 per pill, and pro drug documentation including books entitled Growing Marijuana Made Easy and The Manufacture of Cannabis Oil. Members may have noted stories about this in the media in recent times.

My question is: what action will the minister take to stop the sale of such devices and paraphernalia in South Australia in order to ensure that the provisions of the drug paraphernalia amendment bill are actually enforced?

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister Assisting the Premier in Public Sector Management) (15:15): I thank the honourable member for his important question and I will pass it on to the Minister for Police in another place so that he can seek a response from SAPOL. If there is any illegal activity taking place, I am sure that the police will take action to address that.

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