Prof Dan Howard says he’s ‘puzzled’ it took the government nearly three years to agree to such modest changes in policing
The author of a landmark inquiry into crystal methamphetamine addiction inhas warned the government’s commitment to expand pre-court diversion for drug users in the state could be pushed into “the never-never” if it is not implemented by the March election.
On Wednesday the NSW government released its long-awaited response to Prof Dan Howard’s 14-month inquiry into drug addiction in NSW,But the premier, Dominic Perrottet, rejected Howard’s key recommendation to completely decriminalise drug possession in the state, saying he personally did not support it.Instead, the government will investigate a pre-court diversion scheme which would introduce a “two-strike” policy allowing people caught with small amounts of drugs to access health intervention programs rather than face court.The review, commissioned by the former premier Gladys Berejiklian following a spate of drug-related deaths in 2018 and handed down in early 2020, was scathing of the state’s approach to addiction, calling for an overhaul of a “tired” justice system. The issue divided cabinet, and despite repeatedly saying it was close to a response, concerns about being seen as soft on drugs saw the government take almost three years to respond. The recommendations will not be implemented prior to the election next March. In its formal response, the government said it would consider the pre-court diversion scheme only after June next year, when the chief health officer, Dr Kerry Chant, and the police commissioner, Karen Webb, will “provide advice” on whether the roll out of a suite of services was “sufficiently advanced to allow commencement of a pre-court diversion scheme”. “The government will then make a final decision regarding implementation of the pre-court diversion scheme,” the report stated.While pleased with the substantial boost in funding for treatment, Howard said he remained “puzzled” by how long it had taken the government to reach its compromise while warning that failing to act before the election could risk any momentum following the release of the response. “If it all collapses because the police commissioner comes back and says, ‘well we’re not ready’, that would be really sad,” he said.While disappointed the government had failed to adopt his recommendation for the complete decriminalisation of drug possession, Howard said he had “seen the writing on the wall” by the delay in the government’s response.Guardian Australia's Morning MailOur Australian morning briefing email breaks down the key national and international stories of the day and why they matterNewsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our
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