Robson Matt: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Robson Matt: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:607;Page:4133] 
7.  
Hon MATT ROBSON (Deputy Leader—Progressive) 
 to the  
Associate Minister of Health 
: Has he received any reports on action being taken to reclassify methamphetamine as a class A drug? 
Hon JIM ANDERTON (Associate Minister of Health) 
: 
 Yes I have. Yesterday I received a report from Richard Prebble of the ACT party that evidently goes to many unsuspecting New Zealanders and businesses which stated that the Government had not acted on the reclassification of methamphetamines. Given the publicity on the issue including media releases in December January and February and last week’s debate in the Health Committee broadcast on radio television and in newspapers throughout New Zealand I can only assume that the honourable member failed to notice as he was fighting off leadership challenges inside his own party. 
Hon Matt Robson 
: What is the Government doing about reclassifying methamphetamine? 
Hon JIM ANDERTON 
: This week I will lodge a notice of motion in the House on the reclassification of methamphetamine as a class A drug. On behalf of the Government I announced before Christmas that decision to reclassify this dangerous drug. We are committed to greater powers for the police when they suspect that methamphetamine is being manufactured sold or used. An A classification will increase penalties for this offence from 14 years’ imprisonment to life imprisonment for the importation manufacture and supply of methamphetamine. I would have thought that would satisfy even the ACT party. 
Hon Tony Ryall 
: Why has it taken the Government so long to act on this in the light of the fact that the previous Government was talking about it 4 years ago— 
Government Members 
: Oh! 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I have a rule about questions. I want to hear them and they will be heard in silence. I ask Mr Ryall to start again. 
Hon Tony Ryall 
: Why has it taken the Government so long to act on the reclassification of methamphetamine in the light of the fact that the previous Government announced its action in late 1999 and what action is the Government looking at to deal with the reclassification of analogues of methamphetamine—for the Minister’s information an analogue is a drug with a slightly altered chemical composition but with the same effects as methamphetamine and is used to skirt the reclassification that he is gloating about? 
Hon JIM ANDERTON 
: It is a bit rich for a person who was in a Government for 9 years to announce that that Government announced it would do something in 1999. This Government— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I want the Minister to answer the question briefly and succinctly. 
Hon JIM ANDERTON 
: The Misuse of Drugs Act was amended by this Government. It has streamlined the steps to control dangerous drugs by making the process more simple more effective and more transparent. To ensure the Government makes the right decision and covers all the loopholes there are procedures we need to take. The National Party and ACT might be uncomfortable about the fact that we now provide public input through the select committee and democratic discussion by most members of this Parliament and this side of the House is very satisfied that a 2-month period to reclassify a class A drug is a miracle in comparison with how long it used to take or not to take as the case may be. 
Steve Chadwick 
: What role has Parliament in the reclassification of methamphetamine? 
Hon JIM ANDERTON 
: As the honourable member is aware the Health Committee plays an important role in the reclassification of this scourge. It is involved as part of a more streamlined process put in place by this Government to enable classification or reclassification of dangerous drugs with expert parliamentary and public input but without the very lengthy process associated with legislative amendment. Once the select committee reports to the House the motion lodged this week can be debated and if passed the reclassification of this drug has cleared through its final parliamentary hurdle. With the will of Parliament methamphetamine could be reclassified within 2 months. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The Minister’s answer was too long. 
Sue Kedgley 
: What evidence does the Minister have to believe that increasing penalties for possession of methamphetamine from 3 to 6 months and fines from $500 to $1000 will actually reduce the epidemic in New Zealand and why are we reclassifying it as a class A drug when the United Nations conventions which we use as a basis for most of our drug classifications classify it as a class B drug and not a class A drug? 
Hon JIM ANDERTON 
: These revised laws are not aimed at the victims of methamphetamine; they are aimed at those who import manufacture and supply it. The damage done to individuals families and communities from this drug is simply catastrophic. Liberal views on recreational drug use are absolutely inappropriate in relation to methamphetamine. While we have education and treatment programmes as part of the methamphetamine action plan which officials are currently working on the first step towards a solution is to acknowledge the problem and a total crackdown is supported by every member of this Government on the importation manufacture and supply of methamphetamine. I cannot understand any degree of tolerance being given to this drug by any responsible member of this House. 
Judy Turner 
: In the light of police reports that suggest that cannabis suppliers and users are branching out into methamphetamines will the Minister categorically rule out the decriminalisation of cannabis since it is clearly a gateway drug? 
Hon JIM ANDERTON 
: This House will have its opportunity in due course to vote on that and members will have their own views and I have mine. However can I say that every piece of evidence I have received from the police and from experts in the drug-abuse area tells me and other members who have looked at it that this is one of the most dangerous drugs that has ever been present in this society or any others and this Government has an absolute zero tolerance to it.