James Stevens (Sturt, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise in support of the second reading of the Narcotic Drugs (Licence Charges) Amendment Bill 2022 and commend the contribution just given by the Deputy Leader of the Opposition. It was a very helpful explanation of the history of this, which is indeed a coalition measure that was brought forward in the last parliament. We're now dealing with this afresh in this new parliament because of timing issues around elections et cetera. It's obviously sound policy, which we on this side of the House support.

Cannabis, of course, is an industry that has happily found more valuable applications in recent times than it has in its history. This is welcome and has created the need for a new framework to differentiate between those who use it for medicinal purposes and those who use it for illegal purposes. It's a developing industry, and it's obviously understandable that, from a legislative point of view, we've been needing to move through how we regulate the industry and how we see it as an opportunity, not just because of the important emerging capability it has to provide certain medical treatment to alleviate suffering but also because the production of cannabis is an opportunity for our primary producers.

There have been a number of proponents in my home state of South Australia that are in various stages of developing production capability for cannabis for medicinal purposes. As I say, apart from its medical application, it's an area that we should look at to see where, from an Australian industry point of view, we can encourage and make things as simple as possible for the production and manufacture of medical cannabis related products in this country. To digress, we've obviously had a broader recognition of the need for sovereign capability around key areas such as pharmaceuticals here in this country, recently highlighted by the experiences through the pandemic, and that things can happen that bring into stark contrast the need to have sovereign capability and to be able to produce here in this country some of the important, fundamental things that support our way of life and in pharmaceuticals and medicine in particular.

I also believe that the industry can do a lot more than provide for domestic requirements here in Australia. Indeed I believe that the industry can grow to be a good export earner for those that get into the production of medicinal cannabis in Australia, which is why we want to have a simple framework for overseeing the sector and make sure it is as straightforward as possible for people to participate in the sector, whilst equally not putting them in a position where we don't have the appropriate oversight that is necessary and important when it comes to licensing narcotics and ensuring that narcotics are produced, distributed, sold and used within the legal framework that we have to protect from abuse. So it was sensible for the previous government to undertake a review, and as has been pointed out, what we're doing through this legislation is implementing changes to the licensing charges framework so we can ensure that we're keeping things simple but equally make sure we have good oversight in place and that the sector are funding the cost of the government's overseeing of this framework.

I have sat a lot, and it has been a pleasure to contribute. But on the basis that no-one is indicating to me that the member for Macarthur is moments away from the chamber and of the goodwill towards this legislation from all corners of the chamber I will leave my remarks at that and commend the bill to the House.

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