Ministerial Council on Drug Strategy Joint Communique 19th May 2005
The Ministerial Council on Drug Strategy (MCDS), the peak national policy and decision-making body for licit and illicit drugs, met in Canberra today to consider national drug issues.
The Council comprises the Australian Government and State and Territory Health and Law Enforcement Ministers, including Justice and Police Ministers. Today's meeting was chaired by the ACT Minister for Police and Emergency Services, John Hargreaves.
Issues discussed by the Ministers included:
Illicit drugs :
Efficacy of drug testing kits
Ministers received a report from a special Working Group, established by the MCDS, to consider the issue of drug testing for personal use of illicit drugs. Ministers agreed that they could not endorse the development or use of drug testing kits for personal use in the light of the lack of evidence that they will lead to any net reduction in the harm caused by drugs. Ministers agreed to the need for the Working Group to further consider ways to make better use of existing law enforcement and health databases and to report back to the MCDS at its next meeting in November 2005Events Based Drug Initiative
Ministers noted the value of the Events Based Drug Initiative data collection to the evidence base that informs Australia 's response to illicit drug problems. The data provided assists with monitoring of trends which enables the implementation of appropriate responses at both national and state levels to emerging issues in complex illicit drug markets. The meeting was told that the Australian Government had agreed to provide 50 % of the cost of continuing the data collection for the period June 2005 to June 2006 and States and Territories agreed to provide a matching amount as part of the 2005-06 MCDS cost shared funding program for a period of 12 months to ensure the continuation of the project.Registration of Suboxone as an enhanced drug treatment option
The Ministers noted the potential health and social outcomes that could be achieved through the use of suboxone for treating heroin addiction. Suboxone is not currently available in Australia because it has not yet met the requirements for registration by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). Ministers noted that the manufacturer is appealing the ruling by the TGA and asked that the Australian Government provide an indication of the likely time of any registration on suboxone.Tobacco
Subsidised National Nicotine Replacement Therapy Scheme
The meeting discussed a proposal by the South Australian Government to develop a national subsidised nicotine replacement therapy scheme. The Ministers agreed to reconsider the issue when the results of the SA trial are released. All jurisdictions acknowledged responsibility for tackling smoking prevalence. The Australian Government has agreed to provide $25 million over four years for a national tobacco campaign.Tobacco Advertising and Sales over the Internet
Ministers agreed that all governments work collaboratively to ban the sale and advertising of tobacco products over the internet, including investigating all relevant Australian Government and State and Territory legislation. They also agreed that a working party from the Intergovernmental Committee on Drugs (IGCD) be established to provide a progress report to MCDS in November on Australian and State and Territory mechanisms to ban tobacco sales and advertising on the internet, including the most effective strategies.Anti-Smoking Health Advertisements in Cinemas
Ministers received a report from the ACT about the correlation between adolescent smoking behaviours and susceptibility to smoking in films, and the review of previous trials of anti-smoking health advertisements in cinemas. Ministers agreed to consider at its next meeting (November 2005) a proposal for developing a further research program to be costed by the Intergovernmental Council on Drugs involving young people, cancer councils, the Office of Film and Literature Classification and consumer groups.Alcohol
Labelling products as alcoholic drinks
Ministers acknowledged that, following interventions by the Australian and NSW's governments, the alcohol industry has agreed to develop an industry-wide national approach to the labelling of alcoholic beverages with standard drink information and graphics that clearly depicts the number of alcoholic drinks in the beverage. This will assist the community to have a better understanding of low risk drinking levels, and will increase the effectiveness of Australian health promotion efforts to effectively promote the Australian Alcohol Guidelines. The Australian Government has agreed to consider increasing resources to support community education on standard drink labelling if industry groups develop a suitable, industry-wide standard drink labelling approach.Review of the impact of national competition policy
Ministers acknowledged the potential for National Competition Policy (NCP) to result in increased social problems where the policy has resulted in a significant increase in liquor outlets. The Australian Government suggested the establishment of a working party of the IGCD to explore the relationship between the NCP and liquor licensing within each jurisdiction with particular reference to the approach taken in Victoria .Law Enforcement
Precursor chemicals
The Australian Government updated members on the progress of the National Strategy to Prevent the Diversion of Precursor Chemicals into Illicit Drug Manufacture. Particular mention was made of the progress of the National Clandestine Laboratory Database, which is an inter-jurisdictional resource that will store and integrate information on seized clandestine laboratories and precursor chemicals from police and forensic agencies in each State and Territory.Data Collections
Ministers received presentations from the Australian Crime Commission and the Australian Institute of Criminology on recently released law enforcement drug data reports. The presentations reinforced the continuing danger posed by amphetamine-type stimulants in the community, and provided valuable information on the drugs-crime nexus. These publications continue to make a valuable contribution to the work of law enforcement, particularly in responding to developments in local drug markets and national trends.International Developments
The Australian Federal Police and Customs provided a joint presentation to members on the expansion of international cooperative arrangements and their contribution to recent law enforcement successes in breaking up major drug syndicates. Emphasis was placed on the successes achieved through excellent cooperation between State and Territory law enforcement agencies and Commonwealth, State and Territory law enforcement agencies.Media contact:
Liz Lopa (Mr Hargreaves office) 0411 658 957Kay McNiece, MCDS Media Liaison - 0412 132 585
Page currency, Latest update: 20 May, 2005
