Adams Paul: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Adams Paul: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:614;Page:10572] 
2.  
PAUL ADAMS (United Future) 
 to the  
Minister of Justice 
: Is he satisfied that current laws governing the supply and possession of drugs are adequate to combat the rising P epidemic; if so why? 
Hon RICK BARKER (Associate Minister of Justice) 
 on behalf of the 
 Minister of Justice 
: Yes the Labour-Progressive coalition Government this year reclassified methamphetamine as a Class A drug under the current law. The penalty for supply of the drug is a maximum of life imprisonment. The Government has also taken out a range of other actions to combat the use of P. Of course there will always be more to do. I assure the member that this coalition Government is moving through its methamphetamine action plan and further announcements are to be expected. 
Paul Adams 
: Does the Minister concede that present measures aimed at halting the rising P epidemic are a manifest failure given a North Shore social policy impact report that shows that P is now available to students while at school in most locations of the North Shore and that dealers are targeting kids by waiting outside schools and offering first-time users a free hit; if not why not? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The question is too long but the member had come to the end as I rose. 
Hon RICK BARKER 
: Of course it is a reprehensible act to tempt people to use drugs. There has to be a two-pronged approach. The first is to reduce supply and the Government is doing its best on that. The second is to reduce demand and show people there is an alternative to a drug life. 
Martin Gallagher 
: What action has the Government taken in response to evidence of increased methamphetamine use? 
Hon RICK BARKER 
: Just yesterday the Government announced an increase in penalties for the unlicensed importation of methamphetamine precursors—now up to 8 years in jail. The Government has invested another $2 million in the Customs Service and $6 million for police. Cabinet has agreed to lower the presumption of P for supply from 56 grams to 5 grams. This will give the police the ability to prosecute more suppliers of the illicit drug. 
Richard Worth 
: Why does the Government not consider banning the sale of pseudoephedrine-based products from chemists in order to cut off the supply of precursors to methamphetamine manufacturers from this source particularly when there are effective non-pseudoephedrine drugs for cold and flu diseases available in the market? 
Hon RICK BARKER 
: I am aware that a number of chemists in Gisborne have taken that action. It is a very good proposal and I am sure the Government will look at it further. But I make the point to the member that there is a whole range of precursors for the manufacture of methamphetamine—not just that source. If we attack one area and leave others open the floodgates will open in the other direction. This Government takes the matter very seriously and we are going to take even tougher action. 
Peter Brown 
: If the Government is serious about its concerns about drug use when is it going to do something about people who drive cars whilst under the influence of P cannabis and suchlike? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: That is wide of the original question but the Minister may comment. 
Hon RICK BARKER 
: That is more a question for the Minister of Transport but I would make a brief comment to the effect that some substances are very difficult to detect by a test. The technologies are improving and as they continue to improve I am sure the Government will consider bringing in laws to make use of them. 
Dr Muriel Newman 
: In light of this stated commitment to fighting the rising P epidemic is the Minister working closely with the Minister of Police on this issue and if so are the two police teams that are trained in the clean-up of methamphetamine laboratories—announced by the Government in mid-May—up and running yet; if not why not? 
Hon RICK BARKER 
: I assure that member and the House that I do work closely with the Minister of Police. The Customs Service works closely with the Minister of Police and the Ministry of Justice does as well. But I am not familiar enough with the police portfolio to answer the member’s question specifically. I suggest she put down a question to the Minister of Police. 
Paul Adams 
: In light of the fact that gangs control 95 percent of the distribution of P—the drug that is ruining the lives of too many North Shore teenagers—and in the face of the obvious failure of the present statute will he introduce legislation to give effect to United Future’s gang-busting initiative that confiscates gang assets and laboratories; if not why not? 
Hon RICK BARKER 
: I do not know of a law yet that prevents people from committing a crime. People commit crimes. We make laws to make sure they do not. [ 
Interruption 
] The second point is that the member makes reference to the Proceeds of Crime Act and the Government is looking at that matter very closely. 
Paul Adams 
: Referring to my last question why is it that children’s rights can prevail over the rights of sex offenders who receive post-imprisonment electronic monitoring yet the rights of teenagers schools and communities to be free from gang-propagated P-fuelled violence continue to get ignored because the Government is too concerned about a gang’s right to hold property? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: In so far as that question concerns the original question the Minister may answer briefly. 
Hon RICK BARKER 
: All I can say is the assertion behind that question is complete and utter rubbish. This Government is concerned about the use of P it is concerned about people’s rights and it is concerned about the welfare of its citizens. I reject every sentiment behind that question.