Submitted To: Law Reform, Road and Community Safety Committee, Victorian Parliament
Liberty Victoria welcomes the opportunity to contribute to this timely inquiry. Clear evidence from other jurisdictions, the medical profession and respected human rights organisations demonstrates that drug reform is a health and human rights issue that demands immediate attention. We believe that now is the time for a paradigm shift Victoria.
Our submission is divided into three parts:
- Part One outlines principles that Liberty has identified to guide any reform to drug laws and policies. Broadly speaking, we support a health and human right-based approach that gives primacy to prevention over punishment;
- Part Two proffers reforms to improve Victoria’s response to drug harms, specifically, introducing decriminalisation for possession and personal use of illicit drugs; and
- Part Three identifies two concerning aspects of our current drug laws that require immediate attention and resolution: the deeming provisions in the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981 (Vic); and the provisions of the Residential Tenancies Act 1997 (Vic) that link drug offences to public housing