Turner Judy: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
Turner Judy: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
[Volume:621;Page:16784] 
2.  
JUDY TURNER (United Future) 
 to the  
Associate Minister of Health 
: Can he confirm that he intends to introduce an amendment to the Misuse of Drugs Amendment Bill (No 3) to provide a new schedule—[ 
Interruption 
]—to regulate the sale of legal substances that are subject to abuse but that do not warrant regulation under the current class A B or C drug classifications? 
Simon Power 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. If nobody else will raise this issue I will. The question had been started by the member when the chief Government whip interjected over the top of the question while it was being asked. You have made very clear rulings about that practice in the past. I seek your judgment on what will become of the— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Yes I did. The member will stand withdraw and apologise. She is a whip. That is the only warning I will give today. Please stand withdraw and apologise. 
Jill Pettis 
: I withdraw and apologise. 
Hon JIM ANDERTON (Associate Minister of Health) 
: 
 Yes I can confirm that I intended to do that. I sent a letter to all parliamentary parties in the House ahead of the Business Committee meeting yesterday asking for leave for a Supplementary Order Paper addressing that issue to go direct to the Health Committee which is currently considering the Misuse of Drugs Amendment Bill (No 3). Unfortunately I believe that one party blocked the move for reasons only it would be able to explain. 
Judy Turner 
: Will he give an unequivocal assurance that cannabis will remain a class C drug as per United Future’s supply and confidence agreement and that any new schedule would not be utilised as a back-door route to an erosion of the cannabis prohibition by for example introducing a legal purchase age of 18; if not why not? 
Hon JIM ANDERTON 
: There is no current intention of this Government to change the cannabis legislation in any way. 
Judy Turner 
: Does the Minister agree that substances other than legal highs that are abused such as solvents air fresheners and liquefied petroleum gas have legitimate public uses which means that their classification as drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Act would create a legal nonsense; if so does he agree that such restrictions would be best strengthened under other legislation such as the provisions for fireworks and if not why not? 
Hon JIM ANDERTON 
: Members may be aware of the ongoing coroner’s inquest in Wellington relating to the deaths of six people in the region due to the inhalation of volatile substances. The coroner has called for information on Government strategies and programmes to deal with that serious problem and the proposal in the Supplementary Order Paper was one of the strategies the Government is pursuing. We wanted that proposal to be considered not only by the select committee but by the public as well through consultation and submissions and that is why I took the step of asking for the permission of the House and all parties in it to allow the Supplementary Order Paper to go to the select committee—so it could be considered by the public and then in the House subsequently. 
Hon Matt Robson 
: Does he understand or know why the ACT party wishes to oppose such an amendment? 
Hon JIM ANDERTON 
: I would have thought that the use of— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: No the Minister does not have any responsibility relating to that question. [ 
Interruption 
] It could have been asked a different way but it was not. 
Nandor Tanczos 
: Does the Minister support the labelling requirements in the Supplementary Order Paper applying to alcohol containers—in particular warnings about the risk of foetal alcohol syndrome after drinking even very small amounts of alcohol during pregnancy—in spite of the opposition of the Government’s support party United Future to that or any other restriction on dangerous drinking? 
Hon JIM ANDERTON 
: I have found the United Future party very supportive of Government actions in the drug and alcohol area. I personally support a clear notification on all substances including alcohol of their danger and if advised by officials and the Expert Advisory Committee on Drugs that that would be effective which is the issue I think we have in front of us then I would support it. 
Hon Matt Robson 
: Can the Minister advise the House as to what the effect may be if ACT’s opposition to the amendment is successful? 
Hon JIM ANDERTON 
: It will simply delay the opportunity of the select committee and the House to deal with the matter. It would have been effective and quicker to deal with it through the Misuse of Drugs Amendment Bill (No 3) which is before the Health Committee now but if the ACT members want to delay Government action on drugs and their effect on young people in New Zealand then it is their prerogative to do so. 
Nanaia Mahuta 
: Despite the delay does the Minister intend to submit a Supplementary Order Paper to Parliament so that the Health Committee can deliberate on this proposal? 
Hon JIM ANDERTON 
: Yes I do but of course I am aware of the heavy workload before the House before Christmas. The likelihood is that the Supplementary Order Paper would not be able to be considered before the new year which will delay its implementation in law and if anyone wants to know from me—from the coroner up down or sideways—why that is I will blame the ACT party. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I would like to notify the House that the National Party would not block leave if it was sought for this issue to be debated this afternoon. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: That is not a matter for a point of order. 
Hon Dr Michael Cullen 
: I seek leave for a debate to be held this afternoon to refer the Supplementary Order Paper to the select committee. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought for that. Is there any objection? There is not. That debate can be held. I presume that means at the end of the general debate. That debate will be so held on the leave of the House.