We congratulate the New South Wales government for announcing tougher action on synthetic drugs the new federal government should follow suit, FamilyVoice Research Officer Ros Phillips said today.
NSW will add 40 substances to its schedule 1 prohibited drugs list, making them subject to the same severe penalties as drugs such as heroin. The list includes NBOM-e, a drug which contributed to the death of Sydney student Henry Kwan.
Last month we called on Australian governments to ban all substances intended to have an effect similar to a dangerous drug, Mrs Phillips said. We are delighted that the NSW Fair Trading Minister Anthony Roberts has taken action!
Ros Phillips said psycho-active drug use has soared in the past few years. The harm minimisation approach which includes methadone substitution, needle and syringe hand-outs, injecting rooms and liberal cannabis laws is not working, she said.
The incoming federal Coalition government says it is committed to reducing illicit drug use. We look forward to a return to the Howard governments successful tough on drugs approach, which saw a reduction in drug problems until the Rudd government changed tack in 2008 .
Mrs Roslyn Phillips, BSc DipEd National Research Officer FamilyVoice Australia: a Christian voice for family, faith and freedom Website: www.fava.org.au
