Cannabis law reform
David ETTERSHANK (Western Metropolitan) (12:09): (879) My question is for the Minister for Police in the other place. 420 Day, an international day of action to celebrate cannabis and protest our drug laws, falls on Easter Sunday this year. There is an event in Flagstaff Gardens where very relaxed adults may risk lighting up a joint in defiance of our outdated and unjust laws. While the police at last year’s 420 event were not as heavy handed as in years gone by, there was still a significant Victoria Police presence, complete with sniffer dogs. Once again Victoria was the only state in the country where arrests were made, in this case 36 in total. The Victoria Police Drug Strategy 2020–2025 outlines its new approach for tackling drugs: focusing police efforts on drugs that cause the most harm, disrupting drug markets and pursuing unexplained wealth. Does the minister know if the 36 arrests made were effective in addressing any of the aims of Victoria Police’s new approach, as outlined in their strategy?
Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Corrections, Minister for Youth Justice) (12:10): I thank Mr Ettershank for his question and his interest in these matters. I will take that question on notice and forward it to the Minister for Police in the other place for an appropriate written response.
David ETTERSHANK (Western Metropolitan) (12:10): Thank you, Minister. I appreciate that. The previously mentioned police drug strategy talks of Victoria Police’s commitment to minimising the impact of drug-fuelled behaviour, such as violence, burglaries, drug-related road trauma, family violence and sexual assault. We would all hope to see these sorts of crimes minimised. Indeed this Parliament passed two pieces of legislation aimed at protecting the community from violent crime. Given the significant resources it will take to administer these new laws to keep the community safe from violent crime, I wonder what the justification is for devoting scarce police resources to policing a harmless event like 420. Can the minister provide information on the budget for policing the 2025 420 event on Easter Sunday, a public holiday?
Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Corrections, Minister for Youth Justice) (12:11): I thank Mr Ettershank for that supplementary question. I will make sure that is forwarded to the Minister for Police in the other place for an appropriate response.