New push for NT to decriminalise drugs
A Labor politician in the Northern Territory has renewed calls decriminalise drugs and follow the Portugal model.
A parliamentary committee will investigate harm reduction strategies around illicit drug use.
Jeff Collins, the Assistant Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services told Tom Elliott he visited Portugal last year to find out more about their system.
“We are looking at harm reduction strategies, decriminalisation is one of them,” he said.
“Decriminalisation is not legalisation, that’s not the government stepping in and supplying drugs, that’s a whole different argument.”
But Tom Elliott said he personally doesn’t support the push.
“If we decriminalise drugs…you will definitely have more drug addicts, no doubt about it,” he said.
“However, there would be some pros.
“It’s worth thinking about what this might look like.”
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