I am pleased to announce that agreement has been reached between the Commonwealth
and the States on the framework for the new Tough On Drugs Diversion Programme.
Under this programme, first time or minor drug offenders will be diverted
to compulsory assessment and then referred to treatment and/or education
aimed at getting them off drugs.
In this way, for the first time, there will be a nationwide approach whereby
minor drug offenders can have the option of treatment and/or education,
rather than getting caught up in the criminal justice system.
The introduction of a national diversion initiative, for which the Federal
Government will provide over $110 million, delivers on the commitment I
made together with Premiers and Chief Ministers on 9 April. In addition,
around $110 million has also been allocated by the Commonwealth for a range
of related support measures, including schools and community initiatives.
State and Territory governments have committed to take complementary action,
including in regard to prisons.
A nationally consistent approach to diversion has been made possible by
the historic agreement of the Council of Australian Governments on a national
framework document.
The framework outlines a clear pathway for individuals from detection to
assessment, education, treatment and post treatment support. It also establishes
the responsibilities of the police and those services involved in diversion.
The diversion initiative strengthens our Tough on Drugs policy by providing
a new early intervention focus.
Early intervention underpins diversion, and aims to achieve benefits for
both drug users and the community.
The aim of the programme is to prevent people entering into long-term drug
abuse, where the consequences are serious health problems, financial destitution,
social dysfunction, a criminal record, and in some cases, acts of violence
and property crime.
Diversion will give police a new option for coping with minor drug offenders.
Some offenders may also be diverted by courts under this process. It will
give police the formal power to direct those found using or in possession
of drugs away from the criminal justice system and into compulsory assessment
for treatment and/or education.
The assessment process will determine the appropriate clinical treatment,
rehabilitation service or education course that offenders will be required
to undertake. Following this, ongoing assistance will be available to help
individuals overcome their drug problems.
Those who fail to attend the initial assessment, or fail to participate
in treatment or education, risk being sent back to the criminal justice
system where they face the possibility of gaol.
Consistent with our mutual obligation philosophy, we are saying to people
who use drugs, that, in return for the community providing treatment, rehabilitation
and education services, you must take personal responsibility for your addiction
and participate in these services with the aim of getting yourself off drugs.
If these drug users want to be free of the criminal justice system, they
will have to work to free themselves of drugs.
Importantly, diversion will significantly increase the number of illicit
drug users who receive drug treatment and education.
I pay tribute to Federal and State health and law enforcement representatives
and the Australian National Council on Drugs who have each played a vital
role in the development of the diversion framework.
The agreed framework demonstrates how our Tough on Drugs policy is continuing
to build a social coalition of community and voluntary organisations, law
enforcement officers, health professionals, governments and the wider community
that can help address social problems at their source.
Agreement on the framework document paves the way for the commencement of
diversion projects in individual states and territories. We have already
received a detailed proposal from New South Wales on how they want to implement
diversion in their state. We hope to conclude bi-lateral arrangements with
them shortly.
I look forward to the first projects starting in the months ahead.