Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Labor has a proud record of minimising the harms that come from drugs. For example, it was the Hawke Labor government that established the national Needle and Syringe Program. In the decade to 2010 alone, the NSP is estimated to have prevented over 30,000 cases of HIV and around 100,000 cases of hepatitis C. But policies in this complex and sensitive area should not be made by stunt motions on the floor of the Senate. Several of the recommendations in this motion also require careful coordination between the Commonwealth and states. So, while Labor recognise International Overdose Awareness Day, we will not be supporting this motion.