Horan Brendan: Psychoactive Substances Bill — In CommitteeText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeHoran Brendan: Psychoactive Substances Bill — In Committee[Sitting date: 09 July 2013. Volume:692;Page:11784. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]BRENDAN HORAN (Independent):I appreciate being given the opportunity to partake in this process of democracy. As anyone who has worked with affected youth would attest this Psychoactive Substances Bill is probably one of the more noble bills to come through this Parliament. Speaking to Part 1 of the bill Supplementary Order Paper 271 in my name and also the honourable Mojo Mathers’ Supplementary Order Paper 260 which would delete clause 11A in this part—Hon Trevor Mallard: Why does the member want to sacrifice puppies?BRENDAN HORAN: —and turning first to the principles—I have heard that line before somewhere and it is thrown across to the other side. I would have that member know that I own two dogs and they love me unconditionally as I am sure—[Interruption]Since the introduction of synthetic cannabinoids in 2002 there has been a steady increase in work-related incidents near misses and accidents requiring investigation or disciplinary action. It is rather ironic so much emphasis is placed on companies complying with occupational health and safety regulations to minimise risk in the workplace only to allow our workers and children direct access via the corner dairy to a dangerous chemical mix of mind-altering substances. Synthetic designer drugs have been identified as causing a multitude of medical and psychiatric symptoms including hallucinations fearfulness paranoia insomnia depression bizarre behaviour anxiety psychosis schizophrenia aggression hostility and in some of the more severe cases kidney failure and even stroke.Last Tuesday I arrived in Wellington and I drove straight away to Foxton at the behest of local people who invited me. One of those people was a mother whose adult son is currently in prison for crimes committed whilst under the influence of synthetic and psychoactive substances. I am pleased to say that thanks to the visit that I had to two local dairies those dairy owners in Foxton have committed to cease selling these synthetic substances so the entire Horowhenua is now free from dairies selling psychoactive substances. I am very proud of that.This bill requires commitment by the Minister. It is just the beginning. I must say to the Minister that that includes also getting other Ministers on board. Twelve months ago for instance the Hon Simon Bridges said that the Government would not be supporting random drug-testing on our roads so where is the commitment? I must say it is great that finally the cowboy era this wild west time of psychoactive substances synthetic cannabinoids being openly sold with no controls is coming to an end. We are putting in place a regulatory framework with broad support across Parliament. Before a psychoactive substance can be sold it must be tested and be shown to be safe. I congratulate the Minister in charge of the bill the Hon Todd McClay on being willing to make changes to make this a better law.My amendment on Supplementary Order Paper 271 makes a change to clause 11 which establishes the Psychoactive Substances Expert Advisory Committee and sets the parameters for the committee. The amendment would add a new clause 11(10) requiring a comprehensive annual report. That is a change that I hope the Committee can support. The change will have an important and ongoing impact. Many advisory committees and other similar entities are required in their enabling legislation to produce an annual report. This is good practice. It results in open and transparent government. Annual reports of such bodies provide a comprehensive report of the operations over each year. Interested people and various groups seize on the information and use it quite properly. The media can and do provide coverage of these reports. It is all about letting in the disinfectant of sunshine on the work of this new committee. It is about bringing awareness to families and communities that dangerous psychoactive substances cannot and will not be tolerated in New Zealand. If this Supplementary Order Paper is adopted New Zealanders will be able to become informed about the work of this new committee as it produces its report in each year of operation. I ask the Committee for its support.The honourable Mojo Mathers’ Supplementary Order Paper 260 proposes to delete new clause 11A. I initially thought that I would be supporting that Supplementary Order Paper and in good faith I indicated that I would. However the Health Committee then reported with the first version of the new clause 11A and that has since been updated by the Minister’s Supplementary Order Papers which are being considered now.I believe it is vital that we address all the provisions before us—that we keep our eye on the most important aspect which is that we must get dangerous untested unproven drugs off the streets and out of our communities. Safer communities mean safe families and safe children. This is war. What happens in America—Hon Trevor Mallard: The member’s making it easier not harder.BRENDAN HORAN: —mirrors more or less what happens in New Zealand in the fight against psychoactive substances. Although that member may go on about murdering puppies and carrying on and distracting us from this bill the truth is that our children are being hurt. Our children are being harmed.During the weekends we have children who are going over and having what are called “pillowcase parties”—that member probably does not know what a “pillowcase party” is. These young people stuff all the designer drugs they can into pillowcases and they go and make a dangerous cocktail mix at somebody’s house and they get high. That is happening. In the States at the moment psychoactive substances are being marketed to the young as lollies. So this is war. When it comes to animal testing I am actually confident that New Zealand has a robust—Hon Trevor Mallard: Why is the member on the side of the drug dealer?BRENDAN HORAN: —system under the Animal Welfare Act. That member has been in this Parliament for over 30 years and I thought he would have made sure that animals are safe in New Zealand.I would say that annual reporting by the National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee is also in here. [Interruption] Again I resent being called names. As I said before I love animals and generally they love me. I hope also that the name-calling of the Minister will disappear. I benefit from the unconditional love of the two dogs that I own but on balance I actually prefer the Minister’s approach to changes made to the bill. We need to stop cruelty to people. We have to get the dangerous drugs out of our communities. We need to keep people safe. We need to get these drugs off our roads off our streets.The process for an annual report will over time inform us and may well bring about change in the activities of the expert committee but I would again reiterate that this is actually a beginning; it is not an end. It needs the commitment of all Ministers. I support this part and this bill.