Australian Political Parties Drug Policies - election roll closes 12 August!

[opi8]

I found this on Reddit, and thought it would fit here.

http://www.reddit.com/r/AusPol/comments/1hizmq/drug_policies_of_australian_federal_political/

Animal Justice Party

Official Website: http://www.animaljusticeparty.org/

No mention of drug policies found.

Australian Christians

Official Website: http://australianchristians.com.au/

Drug Policy Webpage: http://australianchristians.com.au/values/

Strong anti-drugs policies based on complete abstinence and harsh legal penalties for all.

“In relation to drugs, Australian Christians will introduce legislation that have a ‘zero tolerance’ approach and focus on abstinence and rather than on how to use ‘safely’.”

Australian Democrats

Official Website: http://www.australiandemocrats.org.au/‎

Drug Policy Webpage: http://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.ne...LICY_-_Alcohol_and_Other_Drugs.pdf?1365136507

Primarily harm reduction based policies.

“Prohibitionist and 'tough on drugs' approaches to illicit drugs are not working...” “Drug and alcohol issues are more appropriately dealt with as health rather than criminal matters...” “Trials of cannabis, ecstasy and heroin for medical purposes.“

Australian First Nations Political Party

Official Website: N/A

No mention of drug policies found.

Australia First Party

Official Website: http://ausfirst.alphalink.com.au/

No mention of drug policies found.

Australian Fishing & Lifestyle Party

Official Website: http://aflp.org.au/

No mention of drug policies found.

Australian Greens

Official Website: http://www.greens.org.au/

Drug Policy Webpage: http://www.greens.org.au/policies/drugs-substance-abuse-addiction

Primarily harm reduction based polices.

“Harm minimisation policies are those directed towards reducing the adverse health, social and economic consequences of drug use.“ “The Australian Greens do not support the legalisation of currently illegal drugs.“ “The individual use of illegal drugs should not fall within the criminal framework.“

Australian Labor Party (ALP)

Official Website: http://www.alp.org.au/

No specific drug policies listed, however comments indicate no change to current drug laws are on their agenda. Former Prime Minsiter Julia Gillard has stated >''I am not in favour of decriminalisation of any of our drug laws'' ^source

Australian Protectionist Party

Official Website: http://www.protectionist.net/

Views of this party seem to advocate harsh penalties for drug users and suppliers and supports current criminal penalties. ^source

Also recommended voting for Nick Xenophon for his “Strong stand against drugs.” and recommended voting for Pauline Hanson's United Australia Party in QLD and One Nation in NSW and Victoria in 2007. ^source

Australian Sex Party

Official Website: http://www.sexparty.org.au/

Drug Policy Webpage: http://www.sexparty.org.au/Party-Info/australian-sex-party-drugs-policy.html

A substantial drug policy based on harm reduction, less criminality associated with drug use and rational policies.

“The Australian Sex Party recognises that attempts to regulate and prevent drug use through a criminal framework have been unsuccessful; the war on drugs has failed. We advocate for a new approach to drugs, which will replace a criminal framework with a community health and administrative response. Abolition of criminal penalties in a decriminalised framework has proven highly successful in Portugal (1)(2), and their model should be influential in developing policy in Australia.“

“Decriminalisation, not legalisation, of purchase, possession and consumption of all drugs for personal use, such quantity to be defined as an amount equal or less than 14 day’s supply for one person.“ “Legalise the prescription of heroin to registered and habitual users.“

Australian Stable Population Party

Official Website: http://www.populationparty.org.au/

No mention of drug policies found.

Bank Reform Party

Official Website: http://www.bankreformparty.com/

Single issue party with no reference of drug policies found.

Building Australia Party

Official Website: http://www.buildingaustralia.org.au/

No mention of drug policies found.

Bullet Train for Australia Party

Official Website: http://bullettrainforaustralia.com.au/

Single issue party with no reference of drug policies found.

Carer's Alliance

Official Website: http://www.carers.org.au/

No mention of drug policies found.

Christian Democratic Party

Official Website: http://www.cdp.org.au/

Drug Policy Webpage: http://www.cdp.org.au/federal-policies/drugs-and-addiction.html

Conservative religeous party with severe anti-drugs policies based on complete abstinence and harsh legal penalties for all.

“CDP disagrees with the concept of “harm minimisation”. Harm minimisation is a defeatist concept which assumes that addictive behaviour cannot be overcome and that consequently the best policy is to maintain the addict in the addicted state whilst taking precautions against some of the harms of addiction. “

Citizen's Electoral Council

Official Website: http://www.cecaust.com.au/

Drug Policy Webpage: http://www.cecaust.com.au/info/platform/platform.html

Extreme views on total abstinence, harsh criminal penalties and scarily aggressive war terminology.

“We must wage a real war on drugs. The present "harm minimisation" policy is a disaster, which merely expands drug usage. The war on drugs must be fought with all the weapons of war, including international cooperation to destroy the drug crops at their source—which requires reversing the current military policy of protecting the poppy fields of Afghanistan—and dramatically expanded physical and human resources to our police and other enforcement bodies. Most importantly, the drug cartels presently launder an estimated $10 billion per year through Australia's banks, without whose cooperation the drug trade could not function; these banks, who have also financed the decriminalisation/legalisation lobby in this country, must be pursued ruthlessly. “

Country Alliance

Official Website: http://www.countryalliance.org/

Flyer in previous election compared this party as opposite to the Greens and hence are against Greens policies such as >“Removing criminal sanctions for personal drug use. Funding heroin injection rooms.” ^source

Country Liberals (NT)

Official Website: http://www.clp.org.au

Supports tougher drug testing in jails. ^source. No other specific mention of drug policies found.

Democratic Labor Party

Official Website: http://www.dlp.org.au/

No mention of drug policies found.

HEMP (Help End Marijuana Prohibition) Party

Official Website: http://australianhempparty.com/

Drug Policy Webpage: http://australianhempparty.com/about/policies

Single issue party that advocates the legalisation and regulation of cannabis for personal, medical and industrial uses.

allow for health education, home growing, and regulated sales through registered outlets which will separate cannabis from the criminality of the black-market and end consequent associated corruption. allow medical use, utilising cannabis’ painkilling, relaxing, anti nausea and healing properties. establish a commercial hemp industry producing fuel, fibre, paper, textiles, food, oil and other environmentally sound products.

Katter's Australian Party

Official Website: http://www.ausparty.org.au/

No mention of drug policies found.

Liberal Democratic Party

Official Website: http://www.ldp.org.au/news

Drug Policy Webpage: http://www.ldp.org.au/policies/1268-cannabis

A Libertarian party which supports free speech and opposes the criminalisation of victimless crimes, such as drug use. However, their drug policy currently only mentions marijuana specifically.

“The LDP supports the legalisation of use, cultivation, processing, possession, transport and sale of cannabis, with protection of minors and penalties for driving while impaired.” Re-legalisation of recreational marijuana use by adults (subject to prohibition on involvement of minors, etc) and a review of prohibitions on certain other drugs. [Note: a more detailed policy on drugs is under development. Supports the re-legalisation of recreational marijuana for adults and a review of current drug laws based on actual harm rather than perceived harm (http://www.ldp.org.au/files/Bedroom brochure.pdf)

Liberal Party of Australia

Official Website: http://www.liberal.org.au/

No mention of drug policies found.

Liberal National Party of Queensland

Official Website: https://lnp.org.au/

Supports harsh criminal penalties for drug traffickers, no matter how minor that trafficking may be.

“Drug Traffickers to serve at least 80 per cent of their sentence before being eligible for parole and any property gained in the last six years will be confiscated”

^source

“Drug traffickers ruin the lives of people every day and sentencing laws not only need to reflect this, but they need to be enforced to drive the message home.“

^source

National Party of Australia

Official Website: http://www.nationals.org.au/

No mention of drug policies found.

No Carbon Tax Climate Sceptics

Official Website: http://www.climate-sceptics.com.au/

No mention of drug policies found.

Non-Custodial Parents Party (Equal Parenting)

Official Website: http://www.equalparenting.org.au/

No mention of drug policies found.

One Nation

Official Website: http://www.onenation.com.au/

No mention of drug policies found.

Pirate Party Australia

Official Website: http://pirateparty.org.au/

Drug Policy Webpage: http://pirateparty.org.au/wiki/Policies/Drugs

Comprehensive drug policy with an aim to legalise certain drugs and decriminalisation of other currently illegal drugs.

“People have always taken drugs, and modern attempts at prohibition are at odds with history as well as human nature. The war on drugs is best understood as a war on a market. Such wars are futile: demand always creates supply, and ad-hoc attacks on supply channels do nothing other than reduce the quality of drugs, and increase the risks. History shows that even the harshest attempts to outlaw a market do not make the market go away, but merely create an unregulated black market in place of the legal one, making criminals of regular citizens and funding organised crime.“

Legalise safe, non-addictive drugs. Partially decriminalise drugs which fail to meet the threshold for legalisation. Redirect existing resources and additional revenue to fund more research and support services.

Rise Up Australia

Official Website: http://riseupaustraliaparty.com/

No mention of drug policies found.

Secular Party of Australia

Official Website: http://www.secular.org.au/

A party that's primary purpose is to separate church and state with an emphasis on human rights and personal freedoms. While there is not much specifically mentioned about drug law reform, it is mentioned briefly on their policy page. source

“Personal freedoms should be based on modern secular humanist principles. Only secularism can guarantee religious freedom, and we endorse this freedom. However those who adhere to faith-based morality frequently seek to impose their religious views on the entire population. This occurs in policies concerning areas such as abortion, voluntary euthanasia, stem cell research, drug policy and gay rights.“

Senator Online

Official Website: http://www.senatoronline.org.au/

No mention of drug policies found.

Shooters and Fishers Party

Official Website: http://www.shootersandfishers.org.au/

No mention of drug policies found.

Socialist Alliance

Official Website: http://www.socialist-alliance.org/

Drug Policy Webpage: http://www.socialist-alliance.org/page.php?page=1260

Supports the legalisation and regulated sale of currently illegal drugs.

“A vast array of research suggests that the best and most humane way to minimise drug harms is through legal regulation. The Socialist Alliance does not support an immediate, uncontrolled legalisation of prohibited drugs (based on free market principals), which would potentially be little better than prohibition. Drug regulation in combination with state-of-the-art research could offer a range of management options, which can be adjusted depending on local priorities and needs. The Socialist Alliance believes that the legal regulation of current illicit drug use and supply can help remove stigma and discrimination and provide the basis for a policy based on health promotion and harm minimisation.”

Socialist Equality Party

Official Website: http://www.sep.org.au/website/

No mention of drug policies found.

Uniting Australia Party

Official Website: http://www.unitingaustraliaparty.com.au/

No mention of drug policies found.

Voluntary Euthenasia Party

Official Website: http://vep.org.au/

Single issue party with no reference of drug policies found.

Nick Xenophon Group

Official Website: http://www.nickxenophon.com.au/

No mention of drug policies found. Wants synthetic drugs banned at a Federal level source

The Wikileaks Party

Official Website: http://www.wikileaksparty.org.au/

No mention of drug policies found.

 

[Captain Brewster]

Nice post.

all the information I wanted to know, but couldn't be bothered researching.

 

[AyahuascaSeeker13]

Who will the Sex Party attach to if voted in? Will they do what Bob Brown did?

 

[(Wordy)]

Who will the Sex Party attach to if voted in? Will they do what Bob Brown did?

Sorry, but I'm not sure I understand either of your questions. Care to elaborate?

I very much doubt that the Sex Party can win a seat in the House of Representatives, so there'll be no question of a Sex Party member becoming part of a coalition to form government. The Sex Party could win a Senate seat, however.

 

[poledriver]

Good post.

I like the sound of the pirate party.

 

[AyahuascaSeeker13]

The Greens were all about cannabis reform years ago, they get in and saddle up with The ALP. All past promises were scrapped.

As usual I refuse to vote and will much prefer to pay a fine than vote for Fiona Pattern and he group of wanna be solicitors and drug geniuses. As well as all those other so called "honourable" clowns who consider themselves worthy enough to run our country.

This is all my opinion, so slamming me in response is not needed.

 

[opi8]

Why so much hate for Fiona Patten and the Sex Party amongst drug users?

I understand that she's the head of the Eros Foundation and is interested in the rights of sex workers and the adult entertainment industry, which many may have some kind of hate for - even though I would imagine that's pretty hypocritical, she's in favour of improving the lives of sex workers, who choose that line of work. I shouldn't make this post about that party in particular, but I wanted that off my chest.

Edit: Typo

 

[AyahuascaSeeker13]

Fiona Patton is a money hungry, greedy, self centred imbecile. Anytime she can get her face on a story she will. I know an owner of a major chain of sex shops in NSW who refuses to join EROS due to the ways they promise to "help sex shops" if raided.

Without quoting an email which EROS sent out about a year ago, it was basically // we have a team of lawyers who constantly work with government departments blah blah who can protect you and make it possible for you to continue retailing synthetic drugs......... If... You pay us $4500 per 6 months"... How the fuck can she think she has the power to allow retailers to continue selling an illegal product?

I have a great solicitor and barrister (thus far)... I may as well call up a stack of dealers and tell them ill help if they get busted, just throw me a chunk of your profits...

C'mon... Fiona is in this for $$$$. Not to protect the rights of anyone... What has this rough talking big noter actually achieved? Nothing.

EROS should be investigated by the ACC (not ACCC) as I believe they have / had a massive share in the trade of synthetic drugs.

Again... My opinion of what I know to be fact.

 

[aussie101]

Pirate Party Australia

lol

 

[gimpan]

Liberal democratic party are extremely pro-gun which suits me but also have sensible drug policies but unfortunately haven't had as much success as the Australian shooters party which seem to get the majority of pro-gun votes.
Ive always wanted to see promote drug reform as one of their major policies but they seem to want stick to their shooting/fishing/hunting thing which seems to be working for them.

 

[opi8]

Fair enough, but I gotta say most corporations or for-profit entities are the exact same as what you wrote in the first sentence.

Of course the adult industry has a vested interest in selling legal highs because they make money off them, I don't see that simply because money is involved that means defending something is inherently bad.

I would also imagine that Eros do have some good lawyers on hand as well, which do cost a lot of money, since they represent a large amount of the Australian adult industry.

Anyway, no big deal, thanks for the response.

Who will the Sex Party attach to if voted in? Will they do what Bob Brown did?

Not sure what you mean by "attach to", but if you mean preference then I found this on Fiona's Wikipedia page.

Whilst the Sex Party did not win any seats, their preferences were substantially beneficial to the Greens who won a Senate seat in every state for the first time.

I am not sure of the history of Bob Brown, I thought he was a champion and people's hero of the Greens who recently retired and now sails on the Sea Shepherd boat looking for Japanese whalers or something.

 

[opi8]

lol

They will be high up in my preferences, what's so funny about them? According to WikiPedia they received more than 7% of the vote in Sweden, where I believe the whole concept was established which is nothing to laugh about. Their policies certainly resonate with me.

 

[Divine Moments]

Excellent post, thanks! I looked into the Greens drug policies recently and was distinctly unimpressed. Now I can easily see who actually has policies I support :D

 

[Captain Brewster]

Just thought I'd bump Opi8's great work.

I think anyone lurking around AussDD should read it and get a good idea of what their supporting.

Go Hemp party!

 

[laugh]

yeh this is a cool thread.

power corrupts so in my mind it doesnt really matter who the fuck you vote for

 

[Captain Brewster]

Do you vote laugh? Donkey it?

 

[laugh]

i vote greens which is pretty much a null vote.

the only thing i dont like about the greens is they are keen to legalise same sex marriage. while i dont have an issue with homosexuality i do have an issue with homosexuals wanting in on marriage. i dont understand why they want in on marriage. have they not seen the contemporary rates of divorce? do they not realise marriage is a sham based on the fucking bible the biggest fairytale of them all. if i was in their position id just start my own bloody marriage trip and run with it. in saying that I'm not really a believer in marriage so why should i even care?

i guess its the conservative in me...hahaha conservative - yeh i vote greens

 

[poledriver]

haha a party that wonts to do away with all marriage perhaps. I'm not too into the whole marriage thing either tbh. Seems alot of them don't work out and just cost alot. Why not just do that shit yourself with out all the official shit.

Animal Justice Party sounds like it could be cool, but I'm only going on it's name and I like animals. lol. Shame they dont have any decent drug policy going. I guess I should read into what they are about. I will sometime, but as laugh kind of said they wont have the power and dont stand a chance, so therefore who gives a fuck. I guess we get a real choice of between abott and rudd

 

[gimpan]

I want drugs, guns, gay marriage and Jesus, who should I vote for?

 

[gimpan]

^ Guns though Oprah, guns