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Question and Answer Tracking Details

59 - Premier - DRUG SUMMIT

Buckingham, Jeremy to the Minister for Climate Change, Minister for Energy, Minister for the Environment, and Minister for Heritage representing the Premier

My question is directed to the Hon. Penny Sharpe, representing the Premier. When in opposition, the now Government and now Premier promised a drug summit. In today's address in the other place by the Treasurer, there was no mention of the drugs issue or any summit, nor does it appear there is any funding for a drug summit in today's budget. Will the Minister explain why that is the case?

Original Answer -

The Hon. PENNY SHARPE (Minister for Climate Change, Minister for Energy, Minister for the Environment, and Minister for Heritage) (15:28:43): I thank the honourable member for his question and for his ongoing interest in drug issues. Drugs are a real problem in our community, and they do untold harm to many people and families. In 1999 when Labor was in government, we had a drug summit. I was there, in fact, as a junior adviser, back in the day. It was an extremely important event. The Government is absolutely committed to a drug summit that will be funded and done properly. The details of when and how are a matter for the health Minister and others. I am happy to take further details on notice. But the member should not for one second take anything from his reading of the budget to suggest that there will not be a drug summit, that the Government is not committed to the summit, or that the Government does not understand the scourge of drugs. We need to bring a whole lot of people together to build consensus on the reform that we need—reform that those opposite completely stalled. They did nothing for 12 years and we saw the impact of that. We need to work closely together in order to move forward, which the Government will do with the drug summit.

The time for questions has expired. We could have done with a few more questions on the budget from those opposite, but that is okay. They are very upset. If members have further questions I suggest they place them on notice.

Additional Answer -

The NSW Government has been clear about its intention to host a drug summit in its first term. The Drug Summit will bring together medical experts, police, drug user organisations, families, and other stakeholders to build consensus on the way NSW addresses drug use and harms. The cost of hosting the Drug Summit will be funded from the NSW Health budget.


Question asked on 19 September 2023 (session 58-1)
Answer received on 12 October 2023