Melissa Price (Durack, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

The Turnbull government is building an innovative and sustainable economy for a safe and secure Australia, and this bill is a demonstration of the compassion of those of us on this side of the chamber. I am pleased to rise today to speak on the Narcotic Drugs Amendment Bill 2016.

This government is a progressive government. Not only are we creating a more sustainable economy; we are also making Australia a better place to live. This bill will allow the cultivation of cannabis for medicinal purposes while remaining compliant with Australia's international obligations. To my constituents I stress that we are not legalising marijuana; we are allowing those who need to access cannabis to do so. I think it is worth repeating: we are not legalising marijuana. We are allowing those who need to access cannabis to do so in a safe manner.

Presently there is a global shortage of legal product capable of being supplied through existing pathways under the Therapeutic Goods Act; so clearly we need to address this supply side problem. I think this is a historic day in Australia's parliamentary history. For years, decades and generations, people in this country have fought to legalise marijuana for medicinal purposes. For many families and friends, this bill is the missing piece in their relative's or friend's journey in managing the impacts of serious health conditions—such as epilepsy, Crohn's disease and multiple sclerosis—as we heard in the very emotional speech from the member for Leichhardt, who outlined many very personal stories of people who would have liked to have the opportunity to use medicinal cannabis. So I do stand here today as a proud member of the Turnbull government, who have taken the first steps towards that goal.

I assume that we do count on bipartisan support for this much-needed legislative change. This measure will ensure that when cultivation, production and manufacture of cannabis for medicinal purposes begins, Australia will remain compliant with its international treaty obligations as defined in the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs 1961. The bill provides that the Commonwealth will oversee all regulatory aspects of the cultivation of cannabis for medicinal purposes through a national scheme. This removes the need for states and territories to implement legislation to set up individual cultivation schemes and ensures that laws are consistent across Australia.

Two types of cultivation licences will be available once this bill passes. One allows for the cultivation of cannabis plants for the production of cannabis for medicinal and related purposes, and the other authorises cultivation for research purposes related to medicinal cannabis.

As a member of parliament, I see my duty as being to ensure the safety of all Australians, not just to the people in my electorate of Durack. I am concerned that some people are so desperate to obtain medicinal cannabis that they are currently accessing unsafe, illegal supplies of cannabis which in many cases are administered by unqualified and untrained individuals—which exposes them to health risks, not to mention the possibility of prosecution.

This measure will enable the domestic cultivation of cannabis for use in clinical trials, scientific research and medicinal purposes. I must repeat once again that this is not legalising marijuana. We are not and we will not. We will only be allowing those who need to access medicinal cannabis the opportunity to do so in a safe manner.

Where the cultivation of cannabis is for production into medicinal cannabis products for supply to patients, these patients will be managed to ensure that the amounts of product manufactured are planned in advance, are relative to proposed usage and do not exceed permitted manufacturing limits.

Under this measure, Australia must report regularly to the International Narcotics Control Board, which oversees the implementation of the single convention on quantities of narcotics produced, manufactured and used, with a view to preventing stockpiling of raw material beyond national and global needs. These amendments are designed to ensure the Commonwealth is able to fulfil this obligation. And just so we are clear, this measure will not override state legislation dealing with criminal activities associated with the cultivation and trafficking of cannabis.

While this measure was not a 2013 coalition election commitment, I truly believe it does demonstrate that this government is not only listening to but in touch with the needs of the Australian public. It is worth noting that those opposite had the opportunity to bring in the same reforms during their six years in government but they failed to do so. I am pleased that we are here today discussing its introduction.

In closing, I would like to acknowledge the hard work of Minister Ley, the Minister for Health, in getting this measure to the House. I note that we will require state and territory governments to pass their own legislation and I wish them all swift passage in this regard. I commend this bill to the House.

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