Turner Judy: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Turner Judy: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:626;Page:20803] 
10.  
JUDY TURNER (Deputy Leader—United Future) 
 to the  
Associate Minister of Health 
: Is he satisfied that proposed changes to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 will provide greater protection for our young people from harm associated with low-risk substances with psychoactive effects and other controlled drugs; if not why not? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR (Associate Minister of Health) 
: 
 Yes it will provide greater protection for our young people from both high and low-risk drugs. 
Judy Turner 
: Can the Minister confirm that any move to decriminalise or lower restrictions on controlled drugs such as cannabis now has to happen through a full process of parliamentary scrutiny that involves the New Zealand public in the consultation process rather than by slipping it through by Order in Council and affirmative resolution which is simply inappropriate for changes that would have such disastrous implications for our young people; if not why not? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: I can confirm that and I support the good work that the Health Committee did to come up with that outcome. I say once again that this Labour Government has made a commitment that there will be no change to the legal status of cannabis. We stand by that and welcome the support of our coalition colleagues. 
Barbara Stewart 
: Why is the Minister satisfied that the level of protection offered by the bill in its present form is adequate given the absence of any research into the long-term effects of benzylpiperazine party drugs and other psychoactive substances? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: We acknowledge the fact that there is still more work to be done on those drugs. This Government is aware that it is a growing problem in the community. That is why we moved through this bill to regulate the sale or output of those drugs. No one under the age of 18 will legally be able to consume those drugs at all. We consider that to be progress but there is still more work to be done in that area along with an improvement in the attitude around alcohol tobacco and other drugs used in this country. 
Judy Turner 
: Will the Minister give a commitment to developing stand-alone restricted substances legislation that would replace these current changes at a later date and also include the regulation of other substances such as butane gas and aerosols which have legitimate uses but are abused by many young people; if not why not? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: It is inevitable that we will have to take a serious look at all those growing problems. A stand-alone bill would I understand have taken a long time to go through the parliamentary process and this Government is committed to looking at that prospect and possibility in the future. 
Nandor Tanczos 
: Can the Minister confirm the accuracy of the statement last week that United Future had threatened to withdraw support on confidence and supply unless the Government supported the amendment of Judy Turner and can he also confirm that when Judy Turner said at the time that her amendment would stop cannabis from being declassified by a “mere ministerial sign-off” she was factually incorrect—which is what the press release by the Progressive Party stated; if he can confirm those two things should this House take it to mean that the member simply did not understand the law she is trying to change? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: I cannot confirm that. What I can confirm is that United Future has consistently advocated for the improvement in laws around unwanted substances in this country be they legitimate or illegitimate drugs. We will continue to work with United Future to try to improve the situation in this country.