The Hon. MICHAEL GALLACHER: My question without notice is addressed to the Attorney General. Is the current anti-drug legislation satisfactory to prohibit the importation and distribution in New South Wales of the chemical 4MMC, the drug mephedrone, labelled by the media as "miaow"? Given that foreign drug exporters are reportedly circumventing the Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act to mail small amounts of mephedrone to New South Wales under the auspice of plant food, what legal loopholes need to be closed to prevent this harmful drug reaching Sydney streets?

The Hon. JOHN HATZISTERGOS: Almost all import and export offences relating to narcotics are covered by Federal laws, not by New South Wales laws. To the extent that the question refers to import and export, it relates to things done under Commonwealth law. Importantly, it is a similar situation in relation to matters involving the use of postal services. I make it clear to the honourable member, as I did to someone else who inquired about this issue, that that particular narcotic is covered under the drug misuse and trafficking legislation so it is prohibited by existing State legislation to the extent that the State's laws reach any particular activity. If an aspect of the honourable member's question relates to a particular concern he has, beyond what has been expressed in the question, I am happy to look into it if he wishes to draw it to my attention.