Anderton Jim: Misuse of Drugs Amendment Bill (No 3) — In Committee Third Reading 
Anderton Jim: Misuse of Drugs Amendment Bill (No 3) — In Committee Third Reading 
[Volume:626;Page:21514] 
Hon JIM ANDERTON (Associate Minister of Health) 
: 
 I move  
That the Misuse of Drugs Amendment Bill (No 3) be now read a third time 
. This bill updates our drug laws and makes them more responsive to licit - drug use trends in New Zealand. I know that all parties in Parliament understand the importance of such a measure. In particular the bill will permit presumption of supply matters to be amended by Order in Council at the same time as a change in classification subject to the normal affirmative resolution procedure by Parliament which of course means that Parliament still gets to decide the issue. 
The bill sets the presumption of supply amount for methamphetamine at 5 grams rather than the present default amount of 56 grams. It removes the ability for the classification level of a controlled drug to be decreased or a classification to be removed by Order in Council and the affirmative resolution procedure. That change to the select committee report was sought by the United Future party. The bill adds a Ministry of Justice official to the Expert Advisory Committee on Drugs. It creates new offences relating to the importing and exporting of precursor substances which are ingredients like ephedrine and pseudoephedrine that are used in the manufacture of methamphetamine. It creates new powers of search and seizure without warrant for ephedrine and pseudoephedrine and it allows controlled deliveries of precursor substances which will deal to some of our drug dealers. 
The bill retains the offence of possessing a needle or a syringe but it puts the defence of where the needle or syringe has been obtained lawfully into the principal Act. Currently this defence is hidden away in regulations where few lawyers with not much experience can find it. It moves the onus of proof from the defendant to the prosecution as recommended by public health experts. 
Finally the bill adds a new restricted substance as part of the legislation and regulates benzylpiperazine the main ingredient found in party pills as the first restricted substance in New Zealand under the terms of the amended legislation and it almost certainly will not be the last. 
Today I would again like to thank all members of the Health Committee for their valuable work on this bill. I know there have been complex matters to deal with. Committee members had to tackle the public health and legal issues within a relatively tight time frame but it is a better time frame than the years it sometimes took previously to get these matters before the House. I know that some members would have liked a great deal more time to consider a number of issues arising from the bill but against that I know that the majority of us here understand the need to move as quickly and practically as possible to respond to changing trends in the drug abuse scene. 
Since I became the Associate Minister of Health and became responsible for the national drug policy 3 years ago the Labour-Progressive Government has put in place a sophisticated strategy to try to turn the tide against the harm caused by drugs in our country. This strategy includes getting very tough on the pedlars of very dangerous drugs like the manufacturers and importers of methamphetamine and its precursors. Our strategy includes increasing the amount of public investment on reducing the demand for drugs through community-based education and action programmes. It also includes investing more in treatment services because there will need to be more if we are to realistically expect significant numbers of former drug users to get back on their feet and live a drug-free lifestyle. 
Our strategy includes investment in empirical research into the medical health and social and economic effects that drug abuse is having on individuals on their families and on communities in New Zealand. 
To effectively turn the tide against the abuse of alcohol and drugs we need to work on all fronts at the same time. I have to say that I think some of the squabbling about whether we should have more stick and less carrot or more carrot and less stick is not very productive. Effectively reducing the harm that drug abuse is causing is not an either/or matter. It is about central government communities local government and families working together on all fronts as appropriate to reduce harm from drug abuse. This bill before the House fits with that multifaceted and balanced strategy. I recommend it to the House.