NEWS: The Daily Telegraph - 14/03/07 'Greens' dangerous drug trip'

Greens' dangerous drug trip
March 14, 2007 12:00

LEADING the way in small "l" liberalism, the NSW Greens have embarked on a groundbreaking new policy whereby social conformity and criminal compliance is achieved at a simple stroke.

It's easy, say the Greens – just rewrite the legislation to make that which was once illegal legal and everything will be all right.

The target of the Greens' latest policy thrust is illegal drug-taking. And their philosophy is simply summed up: illicit drugs are rife, they are used across broad cross-sections of the community, the new mix of party drugs such as ice and ecstasy are universally available.

So let's just cut the Gordian Knot – let's just make them legal.

Well, that's the simple solution – and there's no shortage of people who would support such an innovative idea. Let's just define the problem out of existence – why would that proposal not be a good thing?

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon, never short of a word on such matters, was not loathe yesterday to advance the cause.

Why should people found in possession of the deadly drug ice be charged with any criminal offence, she asked?

Well, indeed. Addling our brains to stupefaction – surely that is a choice we are entitled to make. Why should it be a matter of government interference and regulation?

Should we choose to render ourselves insane, or dangerously psychopathic, or just plain loopy, then surely that is our entitlement?

That, at least, would appear to be the Greens' ideology – that and the idea that preschoolers should be instructed closely in the principles of gay awareness, and that "baby formula" should not be promoted in infant health clinics.

What a marvellous organisation. It's not possible, but just imagine – Premier Lee Rhiannon. . .

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Deadly drugs aren't a crime
By Joe Hildebrand
March 14, 2007 12:00

ICE junkies would be free to buy as much of the deadly substance as they want under a NSW Greens plan to decriminalise all drugs.

In a bizarre defence of the move, the Greens claimed the benefits outweighed the dangers of keeping the drug illegal.

The controversial policy has prompted Liberal Leader Peter Debnam to call for the resignation of any MP who supported decriminalisation of ice.

What do you reckon - is the plan whacked or wise? Debate it with Greens MP Lee Rhiannon who will be answering your questions exclusively at the Your Say blog from 10am today. Plus vote on whether drugs should be decriminalised in our home page poll.

The Greens came under fire in 2003 for their support of decriminalising the personal use of drugs.

That was before the ice epidemic hit Sydney, bringing with it a new level of drug-related crime and violence.

It has now emerged that the Greens – which thanks to Labor preferences may hold the balance of power in the Upper House after the election – believe even ice users should not be charged with a criminal offence if caught in possession of the drug.

The policy, developed by 50 local Greens groups who then send delegates to state council, comes despite acknowledgement of the strong links between ice and crime.

"We acknowledge that – and the way to treat it is not locking people up – it's about having the program to get them off it," Greens MP Lee Rhiannon told The Daily Telegraph.

"We certainly acknowledge there's a crime link."

Asked whether it could restrict police in their duties by rendering them unable to arrest potentially violent or criminal users, Greens campaign co-ordinator Lesa de Leau said: "The benefits far outweigh that."

Mr Debnam said it was an outrage that a political party could support the decriminalisation of a deadly drug – or that Labor could support a party that did.

"This drug is death to young people and it is undermining a whole generation," he said.

"Any elected representative who even suggests access to ice be made easier should take a good hard look at themselves and do the community a favour and resign."

Mr Debnam also condemned Labor for doing a preference swap with a party that held such policies.

ALP secretary Mark Arbib said Labor did not endorse the Greens policies but would go ahead with the preference swap nonetheless.

"There will be no watering down of the (Labor) party's tough drug laws or positions on other social issues," he said.

The Greens also want to introduce gay awareness material into classrooms down to preschool, calling for "the provision of factual and affirming materials about sexual orientation, transgender and intersex conditions at all levels of the education system".

Ms Rhiannon said children as young as four should be taught about gay relationships.

"We support these programs and they would be age specific," she said.

"It's not anything about teaching them to be gay, it's just about how the world is."

Companies would also be barred from promoting baby formula in health clinics, maternity units would have to be "culturally sensitive" and childhood learning would begin from birth as part of the party's 53-point policy plan.

The party also has a whole policy section headed: "Public education must be free from political interference" but said it approved of moves by teachers to inform students of the dangers of the Government's workplace reforms.

"It's a law, they need to know what the the law is," she said.

"Clearly when WorkChoices is designed to strip down award conditions you need to teach that."

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Greens drugs policy disgusting: Iemma
March 14, 2007 - 9:09AM

NSW Premier Morris Iemma has condemned as "absurd and disgusting" a plan by the Greens to decriminalise the use of drugs, including ice.

But Greens leader Lee Rhiannon is defending the election policy that aims to treat users and punish dealers.

"For individual drug users, we need to be giving them treatment," the Upper House MP said on Wednesday.

"The policies of the state government have failed because it's under the Iemma government that we've had this huge increase in the use of drugs like ice."

But Mr Iemma, on the campaign trail in Broken Hill, said such a policy would never go ahead because fair-minded people would not support it.

He also accused the Greens of trying to score "a cheap bit of publicity" with the drugs policy.

"It is just an absurd, ridiculous and disgusting policy," he told reporters.

Mr Iemma said any MP who supported such a policy was "completely out of touch with reality".

Ms Rhiannon said there are now more than 17,700 regular methamphetamine users and 14,700 dependent methamphetamine users in Sydney and the number is growing rapidly.

"What is needed are prevention initiatives that educate the target populations to the dangers of using the drug and effective and accessible treatment programs for dependent and addicted users," she said.

The Greens support ending criminal sanctions for personal drug use and removing legal penalties for growing a small number of cannabis plants for personal use, the party's policy statement says.

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Major parties slam Greens' drug plan
By staff writers
March 14, 2007 10:52am

NSW Premier Morris Iemma and Opposition Leader Peter Debnam have condemned an "absurd and disgusting" plan to decriminalise drug use advocated by the Greens.

Greens leader Lee Rhiannon said the plan's benefits outweighed the dangers of keeping drugs like ice illegal and that the current policies of Labor had failed.

"It's under the Iemma Government that we've had this huge increase in the use of drugs like ice," she said.

Ms Rhiannon said her party was aware of the strong links between ice use and crime.

"The way to treat it is not locking people up – it's about having the program to get them off it," Ms Rhiannon told The Daily Telegraph.

Mr Debnam called for the resignation of any MP who supported the decriminalisation of ice and Mr Iemma this morning described the election policy as "absurd and disgusting".

Under the plan, drug addicts would be treated for their dependence – but not charged with a criminal offence – while dealers would be punished.

Ms Rhiannon said there were more than 17,700 regular methamphetamine users and 14,700 dependent methamphetamine users in Sydney and the number was growing rapidly.

"What is needed are prevention initiatives that educate the target populations to the dangers of using the drug and effective and accessible treatment programs for dependent and addicted users," she said.

Mr Debnam said it was an outrage that a political party could support the decriminalisation of a deadly drug.

"This drug is death to young people and it is undermining a whole generation," he said.

"Any elected representative who even suggests access to ice be made easier should take a good hard look at themselves and do the community a favour and resign."

Mr Debnam also condemned Labor for doing a preference swap with a party that held such policies.

ALP secretary Mark Arbib said Labor did not endorse the Greens policies but would go ahead with the preference swap nonetheless.

Mr Iemma accused the Greens of trying to score "a cheap bit of publicity" and said any MP who supported such a policy was "completely out of touch with reality".

With The Daily Telegraph and AAP

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Mr Debnam said it was an outrage that a political party could support the decriminalisation of a deadly drug.

"This drug is death to young people and it is undermining a whole generation," he said.

"Any elected representative who even suggests access to ice be made easier should take a good hard look at themselves and do the community a favour and resign."

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Drug use not a criminal issue, say Greens
Wednesday, March 14, 2007. 12:37pm (AEDT)

The New South Wales Greens say drug use should not be treated as a criminal issue but a health issue.

The party has revealed it has a policy calling for drug use to be decriminalised, linked with criminal penalties for the big dealers.

Premier Morris Iemma has rejected the policy as ludicrous and disgusting.

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon says Mr Iemma's response is not evidence-based.

"If he looked at the people who were experts in this field - again I mention Dr Alex Wodack - he has some programs and regularly advocates the need for more resources for education for rehabilitation programs," Ms Rhiannon said.

"Many international experts are reiterating the message time and time again, the way that we will reduce drug use in our society is by treating it as a health problem."

Ms Rhiannon has rejected reports that the policy supports the sale of the drug known as ice.

She says Greens policy does not support the unlimited supply of any drug, least of all crystal methamphetamine.

"It is disappointing when Green policies are misinterpreted," she said.

"It is a serious inaccuracy that we are seeing here.

"We are proud of our policies and how they are developed.

"They are responsible and what we are seeing is that for the fourth election, our drugs policy is being misrepresented, incorrectly reported and you have to think that it is part of an election scare tactic."

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Drug hypocrite Iemma on thin ice
By Joe Hildebrand
March 15, 2007 12:00

Put the alliance on ice ... Premier Morris Iemma and Greens MP Lee Rhiannon, whose party advocates decriminalising all drugs. / The Daily Telegraph

PREMIER Morris Iemma is facing charges of hypocrisy after yesterday launching an all-out attack on the Greens' drugs policy - but still clinging to their crucial preferences.

He slammed the Greens as "absurd and disgusting" after The Daily Telegraph yesterday revealed their policy to decriminalise all drugs – including the exceedingly dangerous ice – for personal use.

But he said Labor would still happily do a preference deal with the minor party in almost every seat up for grabs at the state poll.

The move has even boosted the ALP's chances. The Liberals yesterday decided to pull preferences for the Greens over the drugs policy, effectively guaranteeing Labor the seats of Balmain and Marrickville.

Mr Iemma, on the campaign trail in Broken Hill, said such a drugs policy would never go ahead because fair-minded people would not support it – even though the ALP was supporting the party which put it forward.

He also accused the Greens of trying to score "a cheap bit of publicity" with the policy.

"It is just an absurd, ridiculous and disgusting policy," he said.

Mr Iemma said any MP supporting such a policy was "completely out of touch with reality".

"It's a ridiculous, ludicrous policy that nobody should have anything to do with," he said.

The drugs policy has alarmed the community, with a blog by Greens MLC Lee Rhiannon on The Daily Telegraph Online drawing a huge response - including an angry reply by Liberal leader Peter Debnam - yesterday.

There were also hundreds of comments on our original story and almost 3000 votes in an exclusive online poll.

Check out the blogs here and read the comments in the original story here. Have your own say today via the feedback form at the bottom of this story.

Almost three quarters of voters in the online poll declared the policy to be absurd, saying it would lead to social chaos.

But the majority also questioned Labor's decision to stick to a preferencing deal with the Greens in spite of its drug policy.

Mr Iemma said Labor had no qualms about exchanging preferences with such "absurd, ridiculous, disgusting and out of touch" MPs.

Labor has done a deal to preference the Greens in the Upper House, which could give the party an extra seat and delivering it the balance of power.

In exchange, the Greens have preferenced Labor in 24 Lower House seats, including vital marginal southern Sydney seats of Miranda and Menai where Labor faces hostile reception over the desalination plant.

The deal also extends to the Senate for the Federal election this year.

Despite the deal boosting the likelihood of extra Greens in both the state and federal Parliaments – where they are likely to hold the Upper House balance of power and push for such policies – Mr Iemma claimed there was no problem endorsing the minor party.

"There's no trade-off with preferences, we reject that totally," he said.

"We're not agreeing with the sweep of their policies."

It is even possible the Greens may become kingmakers in the Lower House in the event of a hung Parliament.

Peter Debnam accused Labor of putting putting politics ahead of people's lives.

"It's time for Morris Iemma and Labor to wake up and realise that protecting families from drugs is more important than securing preferences from the Greens," he said.

"Ice is a scourge on our society. It's killing young people, it's undermining a whole generation and yet you have the Greens Party proposing decriminalisation."

Late yesterday the Liberal Party announced it would not give the Greens any preferences in any seats.

In a repeat of the 2003 election gamble by John Brogden, Liberal state director Graham Jaeschke said the party could not be associated with the Greens because of their stance.

Christian Democratic Party leader the Reverend Fred Nile went even further, calling on all MPs to be subjected to random drug testing.

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon defended the policy, saying treating ice abuse and other drug problems as a health issue would prevent drug-related crime in the long run.

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Drugs policy 'stupid' but preferences stay
March 15, 2007 01:57pm

NSW PREMIER Morris Iemma has called the NSW Greens' drugs policy stupid, disgusting and rubbish, but he continues to support a Labor preference deal with the party.

Mr Iemma and Opposition Leader Peter Debnam have both condemned the Greens' long-held policy of abolishing criminal sanctions for personal drug use.

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon is standing by the policy, saying police resources need to be targeted at the big drug suppliers rather than users.

Mr Iemma said today the deal for Labor to preference the Greens in the upper house at the March 24 state election had been done by Labor Party officials and did not involve supporting each parties' policies.

"It's an electoral tactic that is organised at election time (and) is free from any trading or concessions on policy," Mr Iemma said.

"We retain the right and the freedom to determine the policy positions regardless of preferences."

The resurgence of the Greens' policy at election time focuses on methamphetamine users.

"This one (policy) I disagree vehemently with," Mr Iemma said.

"I find (it) disgusting and shocking that anyone could be so stupid as to come up with something like this.

"There's a whole range of Green policies that I don't agree with and will never come into being.

"No one's going to vote for this sort of stupidity so any Green that gets elected to parliament after March 24, whether government or opposition, are not going to get support for this kind of rubbish."

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Greens to keep preference deal with ALP
March 15, 2007 - 1:24PM

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon says the party will maintain its preference deal with Labor despite Premier Morris Iemma's attack on the party's drugs policy.

In the lead up to the NSW election the Greens are calling for the decriminalisation of drugs, even hard drugs, such as the form of crystal methamphetamine, commonly known as ice.

Under the long-held Greens policy, drug addicts would not face criminal charges for personal drug use, but be referred to treatment centres. Drug dealers would still be punished.

NSW Opposition Leader Peter Debnam has called on Labor to cancel the deal to preference the Greens in the upper house at the March 24 state election.

Premier Morris Iemma has also criticised the policy.

Ms Rhiannon says policy and preferences are separate and the Greens will maintain the deal to direct preferences to Labor in 12 marginal lower house seats.

The deal is in exchange for Labor directing preferences to the Greens in the upper house, where they hold three seats.

"Preferences are quite separate from policy, we're a political party, part of the landscape is preferences," Ms Rhiannon told ABC Radio.

"In 24 of the marginal seats in NSW we are going to preference Labor.

"There's no policy deals as part of that ... you have to make decisions on preferences but at the end of the day in NSW the voter can determine what they want to do," she said.

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Ice addict slams Greens
By Joe Hildebrand
March 16, 2007 12:00

I should know ... former ice addict Lara Benson has slammed the Greens' plan to decriminalise drugs. Picture: Sam Ruttyn / The Daily Telegraph

A FORMER ice addict has hit out at the Greens policy to legalise the drug, saying it would send the wrong message.

The warning came as Greens MP Lee Rhiannon accused Premier Morris Iemma of double standards in attacking her party's soft stance on ice, saying the Government was already effectively decriminalising the deadly drug.

In a bizarre twist to the methamphetamine debate, Ms Rhiannon urged the Government to openly trumpet its own policies, which the Greens endorse.

Among them is a referral scheme which takes ice users out of the criminal justice system and puts them into rehabilitation as part of the Government's drug courts system.

Ms Rhiannon said this meant users were effectively decriminalised under the current system – despite Mr Iemma calling the Greens' push for decriminalisation "absurd and disgusting".

Mr Iemma was again on the offensive yesterday, saying the Greens' proposal was "unbalanced and stupid".

But Ms Rhiannon said: "The Premier is quick to put the boot in over ice. But the reality is Labor has instituted innovative ice programs based on the harm minimisation principles advocated by the Greens.

"Premier Iemma should shout these initiatives from the rooftops instead of hiding behind his law and order policies.

"It appears that he is more concerned about a political backlash."

Former user Lara Benson said decriminalising the drug would send the wrong message. "I do believe it still should be criminalised," she said.

"All other class-A drugs are criminalised and it's a strong drug. It's 10 times stronger than any other amphetamine.

"If it's decriminalised it sends the wrong message – particularly now there are a lot of problems with ice."

Meanwhile, the Liberal Party has launched a series of radio ads attacking Labor's preference deal with the Greens in a last-ditch effort to claw back the ALP's massive lead.

The ads, which will run on 2GB and 2UE from today, warn voters that Mr Iemma has lost his integrity in opposing the Greens' policy while supporting them politically.

"The Greens want to decriminalise the use of ice," it begins.

"So, do you want to support the Greens? Didn't think so. But that's what Morris Iemma has done . . .

"If he's happy to support people who want to decriminalise the use of ice to win the election, then he's lost the most important test of all – the test of character."

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MP calls for pollie drug tests
By Belinda Tasker
March 16, 2007 01:43pm

CHRISTIAN Democrat MP, the Reverend Fred Nile, has voluntarily undergone drug screening during a bizarre press conference at New South Wales Parliament.

Mr Nile is pushing for random drug tests for all candidates before next weekend's NSW election and would also like random drug testing of public servants, including train drivers and police.

Today, alongside a handful of his Christian Democrat candidates, Mr Nile passed his own drugs test, which was administered via a saliva swab.

"All candidates should be totally drug free," Mr Nile said.

"It's a serious problem, particularly if you are debating legislation, making important decisions in parliament. Every member of parliament should both be free of drugs and free of alcohol."

Mr Nile's call for random drug tests was sparked by controversy this week around the Greens' long-held policy of abolishing criminal sanctions for personal drug use.

Mr Nile said he was not accusing Greens' leader Lee Rhiannon, who is standing by her party's policy, of being a drug user but had his suspicions about other politicians who might indulge in illegal drugs.

"I don't want to name those members but sometimes you have thoughts particularly if they are campaigning to legalise marijuana, cannabis and they think it's a harmless drug," he said.

"I think the deduction could be, if that's their view, that they are using it themselves.

"I understand Lee has agreed to submit to drug testing but I would say that I'd be surprised if there wasn't people in the Green party ... who would be using marijuana but I have no evidence of that."

For his test today, Mr Nile hired an independent firm to carry out a saliva swab test, which can detect whether a person has had alcohol or taken a range of illicit drugs in the past few days.

"I have never drunk a drop of alcohol in my life, let alone (taken) drugs," he quipped before undergoing the test.

State parliament's lone Democrats MP, Arthur Chesterfield-Evans, tried to crash Mr Nile's drug test, saying he had nothing to hide but did not believe all candidates should have to be tested.

"I am quite happy to say I am drug free and I would take the word of my candidates," he said.

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Nile calls for MP drug tests
March 16, 2007 03:38pm

HE'S a renowned anti-drugs campaigner, but today Christian Democrat MP, the Reverend Fred Nile, went one step further and offered himself up for a public drugs test.

In a bizarre press conference at NSW Parliament House, the upper house MP underwent drug screening, administered via a saliva swab, and passed with flying colours.

Now the conservative MP wants random drug tests for all candidates before next weekend's NSW election and future testing of public servants, including train drivers and police.

"All candidates should be totally drug free," the teetotal MP told reporters.

"It's a serious problem, particularly if you are debating legislation, making important decisions in parliament. Every member of parliament should both be free of drugs and free of alcohol."

Mr Nile's call for random drug tests was sparked by controversy this week around the Greens' long-held policy of abolishing criminal sanctions for personal drug use.

Mr Nile said he was not accusing Greens' leader Lee Rhiannon, who is standing by her party's policy, of being a drug user but had his suspicions about other politicians who might indulge in illegal drugs.

"I don't want to name those members but sometimes you have thoughts particularly if they are campaigning to legalise marijuana, cannabis and they think it's a harmless drug," he said.

"I think the deduction could be, if that's their view, that they are using it themselves."

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon dismissed Mr Nile's calls for drug testing as a stunt, but avoided saying whether Greens candidates should submit to testing.

"We have always said we are willing to work within the parliamentary process and that's where the testing should occur," she said.

"He (Fred Nile) voted against a motion from the Greens that would have put testing in place for alcohol, but when it comes to drugs, on the eve of an election, he is willing to run a stunt."

The controversy over the Greens drug policy continued today, with Ms Rhiannon saying a complaint would be lodged with the Australian Press Council over News Ltd reports it supported legalising - as opposed to decriminalising - the drug ice.

That policy earlier this week sparked Opposition calls for the Labor government to dump its upper house preference deal with the minor party.

Deputy Opposition leader Barry O'Farrell challenged Premier Morris Iemma to scratch the policy by today's 5pm (AEDT) deadline for the State Electoral Office to receive copies of all election material to be distributed on polling day.

Both Labor and the Greens said the deal would remain, with the government insisting it had nothing to do with supporting each other's policies.

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Peter Debnam unveiled a $75 million drug treatment and rehabilitation policy which would boost places in Naltrexone treatment programs by 10,000.

The policy includes a hard-hitting anti-drugs campaign aimed at 15 to 29-year-olds and boosting the NSW Crime Commission's special crime unit.

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Dorman hits back at drug legalisation claims
Monday, 19 March 2007

The Greens candidate for the seat of Goulburn has hit back at media reports that suggest his party wants to legalise drugs.

Bill Dorman says the claims are "totally false" and politically motivated.

"The Greens support a significant increase in education, treatment and rehabilitation programs and referral to programs, instead of criminal sentences for people who use drugs," he said.

"The Greens policy also supports tough penalties for importers, manufacturers and suppliers of ice and other illegal drugs.”

"Many eminent people have publicly supported a harm minimisation approach.

Mr Dorman said it was clear the government had failed to deal with the ice epidemic.

"The Greens believe the death, illness, violence and corruption caused by the use of ice is appalling," he said.

"People who are addicted to or dependant on dangerous drugs need treatment and rehabilitation rather than gaol.”

"There are some State Government initiatives to divert ice users from the justice system into treatment, but experts say there is a serious shortage of treatment and rehabilitation programs for people who want to get off ice.”

The current director of Drug and Alcohol Services at St Vincent's Hospital at Darlinghurst, Dr Alex Wodak, has offered his support to the Greens.

He said the current strategies had failed.

"The plain fact is that whether we like it or not the war on drugs has failed, and failed miserably," Dr Wodak said.

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Injecting rooms 'should be rehab centre'
March 21, 2007 04:32pm

THE Reverend Fred Nile's Christian Democrats Party wants the medically supervised injecting centre at Sydney's Kings Cross replaced with a drug rehabilitation centre.

Mr Nile and about 20 CDP supporters staged a demonstration outside the injecting centre in Darlinghurst Road today, saying the party had consistently opposed the facility.

The centre, which is run by UnitingCare, opened in 2001 in a bid to get drug addicts off the streets and prevent overdose deaths.

The CDP's policy on drugs is harm prevention and zero tolerance, Mr Nile said.

"Illegal drugs are illegal drugs, no exceptions should be made," he said.

"The cost of the shooting gallery should be redirected to helping addicts turn away from the chemicals which are destroying them, which in many cases have destroyed their careers and are also destroying their families."

Mr Nile said the proposed rehab centre would be run by volunteers from christian group Victory Outreach International, which already runs programs at Fairfield in Sydney's southwest, and in Brisbane and Melbourne.

"That would actually save the taxpayers a lot of money," he said.

But UnitingCare executive director Harry J Herbert said if people were going to use drugs it was best done at a medically supervised facility.

"Nothing could be more stupid than to set up a rehabilitation facility right here in Kings Cross - that would be quite an inappropriate place for it," he said.

Mr Herbert said he would continue to work with whichever political party won the state election.

Labor would continue the facility, but the coalition has said it would close it down if it wins, he said.

"If in the end the centre were to close ... it will be a return to the bad old days of Kings Cross and nobody who lives up here wants that," Mr Herbert said.

"People injecting on the streets, people dying from overdoses, it's the whole sad and sorry issue of letting people use drugs in public places."

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Greens drug plan emulates govt programs
March 23, 2007 - 7:59AM

The Labor government is already funding programs that treat but do not criminalise methamphetamine users and the NSW Greens want more of them.

Upper House Greens MP Lee Rhiannon went on the attack to support her party's recent election proposal to decriminalise individual illegal drug use in NSW.

Instead, she has said the way to deal with the ice epidemic is to go after drug dealers with tough penalties.

"When someone makes a silly decision, we're mainly talking about young people, and uses ice, what we're saying is that we need to have treatment programs and rehabilitation programs before they end up in jail," Ms Rhiannon told Sky News.

She said many health professionals have backed the Greens' drug policy announced this month and the government already has such programs at St Vincents Hospital in Sydney and Royal Newcastle Hospital.

"And we say, (there's) not enough of them," she said.

"We need more of those programs, because when people go to jail, when they come out of jail there's a 60 per cent chance they'll end up back in jail. That's not getting people off drugs."

Ms Rhiannon said some senior politicians from other parties have misrepresented the Greens' drug policy when putting forth their views.

She said that decriminalising individual drug use would not send the message to users that methamphetamines are not dangerous drugs.

"Let's remember, under the present system of prohibition our society is awash with drugs," she said.

"The message is that this is a dangerous drug, it is a drug that you shouldn't use and if you end up using it you can get into this treatment program.

"Remember, while people face criminal penalties they're less likely to help their friends who are suffering and they're less likely to seek treatment themselves."

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U-turn on drugs policy
Lincoln Wright
July 22, 2007 12:00am

THE Greens have reversed their soft drugs policy in a bid to appeal to the centre of Australian politics.

The party has for the first time stated its opposition to the legalisation of illegal drugs, according to its new Drugs, Substance Use and Addiction policy.

"The Australian Greens do not support the legalisation of currently illegal drugs," principle No.1 of the policy says.

Also, the Greens have called for a crackdown on drug dealers, including criminal penalties for offenders.

The Sunday Herald Sun has obtained a copy of the new 10-point policy, agreed on last week at a special National Council meeting.

Greens Senator Bob Brown said yesterday the new policy would take the party more to the centre of Australian politics.

"It doesn't leave the Greens open to misinterpretation from Family First and Pauline Hanson," he said.

"It maintains our concern that while drug dealers should be dealt with under the penal code, the victims should be helped."

Senator Brown said the party had relied on the best expert drug advice for its change of policy.

"It has honed our policy and brought it more up to date with world's best practice," he said.

The backflip will likely smooth the way for preference deals with Kevin Rudd's Labor Party by easing voters' concern that the Greens are soft on drugs.

The Greens were savaged in the run-up to the 2004 federal election campaign by reports the party supported the controlled use of drugs, such as marijuana and ecstasy.

Senator Brown said the Greens' support for the controlled use of marijuana or ecstasy was now off the agenda.

Popular support for the Greens was now running at 7 per cent, according to Newspoll, much of that likely to flow to Labor when preferences were sorted.

Party sources said the latest policy was designed to pre-empt the Coalition and other parties from aiming at affluent Left-leaning voters -- "doctors' wives" in political shorthand -- with a scare campaign.

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