NSW government urged to scrap sniffer dogs and strip searches at music festivals

ABC NEWS (Australia)

It would become harder for police to lay charges for drug possession, as part of proposed reforms stemming from the New South Wales Drug Summit. The Minns government's also been urged to scrap sniffer dogs and strip searches at music festivals and to create a legal defence for drivers caught with medicinal cannabis in their system.

Transcript

00:00It was the state's second ever drug summit and hailed as a once-in-a-generation chance

00:07for reform.

00:08Our goal must be reducing the number of Australians whose lives have been destroyed or diminished.

00:14Now its recommendations are in.

00:16One of the most significant is an overhaul of the early diversion program for low-level

00:21possession.

00:22It gives police the choice to fine someone for their first and second offence rather

00:27than sending them to court.

00:29But the summit heard officers took the diversion option just 8% of the time.

00:33Among the report's priority actions is limiting police discretion with an assumption of diversion

00:38for personal use quantities.

00:41People whose only vice is to use an illicit drug are ending up with a criminal conviction

00:45and as a result their future employment and earnings prospects are damaged.

00:50In that case I think you'd have to say that the punishment is doing more harm than good.

00:55The government is urged to shorten the time convictions remain on criminal records and

00:59to legislate a legal defence for drivers using medicinal cannabis who test positive for the

01:04drug.

01:05It is completely unfair that they take a legitimate medicine and cannot drive even when they are

01:11unimpaired.

01:12Despite calls at the summit for decriminalisation, the report takes no stance on the controversial

01:17issue.

01:18The Premier had already ruled out such reform before the summit began, much to the frustration

01:22of many advocates.

01:24The recommendation of a drug checking trial is already underway, but the report urges

01:28the government to scrap sniffer dogs and strip searches during the pilot and consider extending

01:34this to all music festivals.

01:35What we need to see is the government immediately acting to implement these recommendations.

01:42The government is now mulling the findings.

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