Rachel called on the Minister for Police to decriminalise cannabis. Violent crimes have taken precedence in allocation of police resources. However, cannabis arrests are still occurring, with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people statistically overrepresented. Decriminalisation would ensure that police resources can be prioritised where they are most needed.
Thursday the 11th of September
Victorian Legislative Council
Rachel Payne (South-Eastern Metropolitan):
Substantive question
My question is for the Minister for Police, represented in this place by the Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation. I was pleased to hear recent reports that some drug offences are at their lowest recorded levels in decades, and all drug offences remain well below average. I am hopeful that this reflects Victoria Police understanding that drug prohibition has failed. Choosing to direct their resources to violent crimes like assault, that recent reports state is up by 10 per cent, makes more sense.
So my question is: will the minister call for the decriminalisation of cannabis so that Victoria Police can continue to prioritise violent crimes?
Enver Erdogan (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Corrections, Minister for Youth Justice):
Substantive response
I thank Ms Payne for her question and her passion on this matter. She has been very consistent throughout this whole term of government in the 60th Parliament, so I will make sure that that is passed on to the Minister for Police in the other place for a response in line with the standing orders.
Rachel Payne:
Supplementary question
I thank the minister for referring that on. By way of supplementary, people often think that no-one is arrested for cannabis anymore; that is simply not true. Last year 3180 people were arrested for cannabis possession, 398 of which were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This over-representation is consistent with the fact that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are eight times more likely to be arrested for possession of cannabis instead of receiving a caution.
So will the minister commit to addressing the failures in Victoria’s cannabis cautioning program?
Enver Erdogan:
Supplementary response
I thank Ms Payne for that supplementary question, and in line with the standing orders I will seek a written response from the Minister for Police in the other place.
[Written response pending]
Related:
> LEGALISE IT – Rachel Payne
> Southeast MP secures inquiry into relaxing cannabis laws in Victoria – Rachel Payne
> Cannabis-related arrests – Rachel Payne
> Motion to Refer the (Regulation of Personal Adult Use of Cannabis) Bill 2023 to a Bill Inquiry – Rachel Payne
