Ministerial Council on Drug Strategy Joint Communique 1 August 2003
The Ministerial Council on Drug Strategy (MCDS), the peak national policy and decision-making body for licit and illicit drugs, comprising Australian Government and State and Territory Health and Law Enforcement Ministers and the Australian Government Education Minister, met today in Perth to consider national licit and illicit drug matters.
The Western Australian Minister for Police and Emergency Services - the Hon Michelle Roberts MLA, chaired the meeting.
Alcohol Advertising and the Effects on Young People
Ministers discussed the findings and recommendations of the National Committee for the Review of Alcohol Advertising (NCRAA) which highlights the social power of alcohol advertising in promoting alcohol misuse, especially among young people.The Review focused on strengthening the existing alcohol advertising self-regulatory system, particularly in regard to investigating complaints. Ministers considered a range of issues around alcohol including advertising, marketing and supply to minors.
They were concerned about the emerging trends in alcohol advertising, particularly the marketing of ready-to-drink products and the portrayal of social, financial and sexual success linked to drinking alcohol.
Ministers considered recommendations to improve the alcohol advertising standards. They resolved that they wanted to work with the industry to implement these recommendations. It was also agreed that the Health Minister from Victoria, the Special Minister for State in the NSW and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Secretary for Health meet with the industry to work through the recommendations.
Alcohol to Minors
Ministers agreed to write to State Liquor Licensing Ministers asking them to examine the issues of underage drinking and inconsistencies in liquor licensing legislation.NSW Summit on Alcohol Abuse
Ministers noted this major summit would be held later this year and agreed that this was an important initiative to address many of the issues of concern to all jurisdictions.The National Drug Strategic Framework- Strong support for a prevention agenda
Ministers considered the strong stakeholder support for continuation of the National Drug Strategic Framework as indicated in its recent evaluation. The evaluation also highlighted the need for a stronger focus on prevention as critical to addressing risk and resilience factors over the long term.Ministers agreed to the redevelopment of the Framework based on the current model, and recommended a stronger focus on prevention, particularly in relation to Indigenous communities, with a more strategic approach to research and use of data. They also commended the emphasis placed by the Framework on collaboration and partnerships between the Australian Government, State and Territory Governments and non-government organisations. It is expected that the next iteration of the Framework will provide the blueprint for Australia’s approach to drug issues for at least five years from mid 2004.
Ministers noted the monograph prepared by the National Drug Research Institute as a world class evidence base for prevention and noted the significant progress made in the development of a prevention policy, as a result of extensive consultation across a range of key government and non-government stakeholders. Within the Framework, the Prevention Agenda will focus initially on developing pathways for young people through two key components:
- a toolkit of the available techniques and interventions to assist young people to better negotiate life transitions; and
- development of an approach that will identify key points at which young people are at risk of drug uptake or misuse, with a view to redirecting them to alternative pathways.
Complementary Action Plan for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
Ministers endorsed a Complementary Action Plan for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples as a significant step forward in addressing the continuing high substance use and associated emotional and physical harm suffered by a large percentage of the Indigenous population.Support of the Plan is also a significant step towards Reconciliation, particularly as its development aligns with the principles of the Council of Australian Government's (COAG) Reconciliation Framework. This Plan was developed in recognition that the current National Drug Strategic Framework and associated National Action Plans apply to Australians generally and do not always reflect and deal appropriately with the specific alcohol, tobacco, drug and other substance issues that concern Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
The Plan identifies key action areas and provides examples of actions that are relevant to specific geographic areas, which will inform the development of the next National Drug Strategic Framework. Over the next 12 months each jurisdiction will be considering the implementation aspects that it can take forward separately and collectively.
2003-04 Cost Shared Funding Model Projects
Ministers agreed to resource six new projects funded on a cost-shared basis between the Australian Government and all States and Territories. The approved projects all have significant national focus and cross jurisdictional benefits and address the priorities under the National Drug Strategic Framework in terms of harm, supply and demand reduction, including a focus on prevention. The 2003-04 projects focus on critical and national issues such as building illicit drugs forensic capacity, alcohol advertising, drug dependent women and their neonates, electronic networking on drug issues, nicotine control, and the Intergovernmental Committee on Drugs 2003 Annual Report.National Working Group on the Diversion of Chemical Precursors
Ministers recognised the emerging problem of the diversion of chemical precursors. This had also been recognised internationally as a problem. Ministers also recognised the extent of collaboration achieved by the Working Group and supported the process that has been adopted to implement the National Strategy to Prevent the Diversion of Precursor Chemicals. Four action groups have been formed to develop initiatives to address awareness raising for key sectors, the evaluation of the impact of controls, establishment of a clandestine laboratory data base and information and intelligence sharing arrangements.Performance and Image Enhancing Drugs
Ministers approved the establishment of a national working group to address all aspects of performance and image enhancing drugs to be coordinated by South Australia.
Australia's International Drug Strategy - Commission on Narcotic Drugs
Ministers were informed that representatives at the Ministerial Segment of the 46th Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) meeting in Vienna, April 2003, assessed collective progress towards meeting the goals and targets set for 2008 by the 1998 Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly and agreed to an ongoing commitment to the international effort. The Ministerial Segment demonstrated continued support of Australia's international role in combating the world drug problem, particularly Australia’s unique approach and success in reducing heroin availability and the decline in heroin overdose deaths. There was also acknowledgement of the work in the development and implementation of a prevention agenda and the work of the National Working Group on Chemical Precursors. These initiatives highlighted Australia’s proactive stance in dealing with key areas of concern to the international community.National Inhalant Abuse Coordinating Committee
Ministers discussed the report on the recommendations of the Inquiry into the Inhalation of Volatile Substances presented to the Victorian Parliament in September 2002 and requested the Intergovernmental Committee on Drugs to develop a national coordinated approach to inhalant abuse.Compulsory Drug Treatment Correctional Centre
Ministers noted the proposed new model compulsory drug treatment correctional centre being developed in NSW and agreed that rehabilitation, treatment and management of recidivist drug offenders was an area which needed to be addressed and linked to post-release management and employment pathways.Model Criminal Code on Serious Drug Offences
Ministers considered the issues around the Model Criminal Code on Serious Drug Offences. Ministers agreed that people involved in illegal drug trafficking should never be allowed to claim tax deductions in relation to their illegal activities, and ensure that tax laws do not allow convicted drug dealers to claim tax deductions.Media contact: Kay McNiece, Media Adviser, MCDS phone: 0412 132 585
Page currency, Latest update: 01 August, 2003
