Australia: ‘Complete lack of political courage’ - As NSW drugs war rages, expert renews decriminalisation push

By Michael McGowan / The Guardian

The author of a landmark report into drug addiction in New South Wales believes the government’s “tough on crime” approach to a spate of shootings is destined to fail unless it dramatically overhauls funding for rehabilitation and treatment.

More than two years since Prof Dan Howard handed over the findings of his special commission into crystal methamphetamine, also known as “ice”, the state government is still yet to respond to its recommendations.

Commissioned by former premier Gladys Berejiklian after a spate of drug-related deaths, the four-volume report followed 14 months of investigations and called for a sweeping overhaul of drug laws in the state.

It slammed the criminalisation of drug users as a “profound flaw” in the NSW justice system and recommended the complete decriminalisation of drug possession in the state.