Income Tax Policy: better, simpler, fairer

18/08/2010

MEDIA RELEASE:Election 2010: Wednesday, 18th August 2010

Darren Churchill – Taxation spokesperson

Income Tax Policy: better, simpler, fairer

The Australian Democrats have embraced radical income tax reform with a plan to improve equity simplicity and efficiency.

The party’s tax spokesperson, Darren Churchill of the ACT, has restated his party’s plans in relation to a tax reform whereby low-income earners are not taxed and the tax base is broadened by reforming Fringe Benefits tax and Capital gains Tax.

“We want to make the tax system fair so that people can live more affordably” said Mr Churchill

“The tax-free threshold has remained at $6 000 since the year 2000. This has been despite Australian Democrats calls for it to be increased. We want to increase it to $25 000 by indexing it over time. This would involve the systematic removal of rebates and offsets, making the system fairer and less complex.

“It would mean that eventually a person earning less than $25 000 would pay no income tax.” Mr Churchill continued. “This will make life much easier for casual and part-time workers, as well as for others on low incomes.”

The Australian Democrats are also calling for indexation of income tax thresholds, more equity in the superannuation system by lowering taxes at the lower end of the earning scale and increasing them for the wealthy.

“Our income tax plan means lower effective tax rates for lower and middle income earners, a more efficient system with less loopholes, and removal of the tax traps for people on welfare who work part-time or who are trying to move back to work.” concluded Mr Churchill.

Further comment: Darren Churchill ph. 0412 196 473

(Full copies of the Democrats’ action plan for income tax are available on request)

Posted in Economics, Family, Federal Election 2010, Income Tax, Media Releases, Senate Campaign 2010 | Leave a Comment »

Affairs of the Foreign kind

17/08/2010

MEDIA RELEASE: Election 2010: Tuesday, 17th August 2010

Affairs of the Foreign kind

Apart from the scapegoating of refugees and asylum seekers, issues relating to Foreign Affairs have gone missing in this election, say the Australian Democrats.

Democrats’ Senate candidate for the ACT, Darren Churchill says there are crucial questions that are not being asked of the big parties or debated by the community at large.

“Why is there no debate about a defence budget which takes up 2% of the total GDP, when Australia is barely scraping in at 0.5% of GDP for foreign aid?

“Should Australia be involved in distant conflicts such as the war in Afghanistan rather than peace-keeping activities in countries in our own region?

“With more than 23,000 nuclear weapons poised ready to strike around the world, why isn’t there debate about nuclear disarmament in this election?

“When it comes to the so-called boat people, rather than trying to blame the victim, might it not be better to increase our foreign aid in the countries they are fleeing so that the inequalities and instabilities are reduced in the first instance?

“Might we be better served by creating a Peace and Non-Violence Commission to provide non-military solutions to conflict and security issues?

“Australia could credibly take the lead at the UN in pressing for negotiated solutions to longstanding conflicts such as Israel/Palestine and Afghanistan.

“Seventy years ago we played a leading role in the world in negotiating the UN Human Rights Charter. The Australian Democrats say that this is where we should be and can be again.

“Right now voters are being poorly served by the major parties and the media’s willingness to keep on dishing up ‘colour stories’ to the masses – they really do deserve better,” said Mr Churchill.

Further comment:

Darren Churchill

Australian Democrats Senate candidate for the ACT

darren.churchill@democrats.org.au

Tel: 0412 196 473

Posted in Federal Election 2010, Media Releases, Senate Campaign 2010 | Leave a Comment »

A speech to the ACT Council of Social Service Community Sector ‘Meet the Candidates’ Forum for the 2010 Federal Election

17/08/2010

A speech  to the ACT Council of Social Service Community Sector ‘Meet the Candidates’ Forum for the 2010 Federal Election: 16th August 2010.

Thank you.

A bit of background about me. In spite of my advocacy for separation of Church and State, I am a practising Anglican – an Anglo-Catholic. For those of you who don’t know anything of Anglo-Catholicism, we have a history of being ‘the Church in the slums,’ ministering to the poor of the inner-cities. So, a social justice angle there.

The last few decades of Australia’s history have led to an increasing level of conservatism in our community. I don’t mean this as a political statement, but as a social comment. It started well before the Howard years and continues today.

The primary result has been an increasing level of selfishness by the well off in our community, and this has moved on into the political arena with a series of both governments and oppositions failing the disadvantaged – and creating a larger gap between the rich and poor.

We should have had political leadership that resisted this pressure and had the moral courage to improve conditions for lower income earners and disadvantaged groups, and as the topic here today “the contest for a fairer nation” implies, it really is time to regain lost ground.

The Australian Democrats have a proud record of being the people’s watchdog in the Senate. We speak for everyone and anyone who needs a voice.   We are committed to fighting for the rights of all Australians and our environment.

We are aware of our damaged environment and depleting water resources, and are prepared to stand up to protect them. We have called for immediate action on climate change. We speak on behalf of the Australian people, seek affordable health and free education, and aim to protect ordinary Australians struggling to pay their bills. We stand against the exploitation and marginalisation of Indigenous Australians and other minority groups.

We fight against discrimination and bigotry. Our long history of being led by strong women has given us the passion to fight for issues often ignored by male politicians – paid maternity leave, affordable child care, reproductive health and free education to name a few.

One of our important proposals in relation to money, is our income tax proposal to increase the tax-free threshold from $6,000 to $25,000. A long-standing Australian Democrats position. And I acknowledge the work of my colleague, former Senator Andrew Murray, for his work on this policy.

Thank you.

—————————————————————————————————

The following points were included but not presented due to the tight, two minute time constraint:

Australian Democrats policy

To address some of the points in the contest for a fairer nation document, I want to give some examples of current Australian Democrats policy statements.

Income tax and incomes

The current income tax system is complex, unfair and highly inefficient due to significant churning effects and unnecessary tax concessions. The Democrats plan would improve equity, simplicity and efficiency.

Proposals from our 2010 Income Tax issue sheet include;

· Increase the tax-free threshold from $6,000 to $25,000

· Index income tax rate thresholds to maintain their present value over time

· Remove unnecessary tax deductions and concessions such as FBT for company cars and other salary packaging and negative gearing deductions

Health and Mental Health

A quick selection of points from our 2010 health issue sheets includes;

· A 5-year Capacity Building Plan for Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services

· Increase the rate of carer payment to 75% of the standard minimum wage and double the rate of the carer allowance

· A national public dental health program that is free for concession card holders and special needs groups, and which includes a full dental check-up and basic dental treatment every two years.

· a national system of community-based mental health centres staffed by psychiatrists, psychologists, GPs and psychiatric nurses

· coordinated case management for at least 12 months after discharge from mental health acute care

Climate Change and power bills

The science is clear – the world’s climate is changing fast. Greenhouse emissions must be reduced across the economy using a multitude of measures. Both the Stern Report and the Garnaut Report show that indirect costs of doing nothing will be higher than the direct cost of taking action. Increased direct energy costs must be tackled by;

· A carbon tax of $20/tonne until emissions trading commences

· A tax on coal exports of $5/tonne, with the revenue used to subsidise power bills for low income earners

· 6-star energy performance standards for appliances by 2012, 10-star by 2017 and a target of overall energy efficiency of 30% by 2020

· I also want to make it clear that the Australian Democrats are opposed to nuclear power.

Population

The Australian Democrats are not new to population policy. We have for years said that we cannot continue to grow our population at the behest of the development lobby, which is the prime beneficiary of such growth. We have rejected the flawed argument that population growth can be sustained merely by having better urban planning.

Perhaps total immigration rates should be capped?  This would be, however, without any reduction in refuge intakes, in order to meet our humanitarian obligations.   We want an eventual end to the skilled migration programme.  Australia must take responsibility for its own skills training.

Conclusion

Please think seriously about your vote.   Please think of the Democrats, You deserve better.

Posted in Federal Election 2010, Human Rights, Senate Campaign 2010, Social Justice, Social Services, Speeches | Leave a Comment »

Media bias towards big parties denies the voters a true choice.

16/08/2010

DARREN CHURCHILL

Australian Democrats Senate candidate

Media Release: 16th August, 2010

Media bias towards big parties denies the voters a true choice.

The Australian Democrats are calling on the media to end their biased approach of presenting only Labor, Liberal and Green candidates on the ABC in particular, and on television and radio in general.

Four political parties and an independent are contesting the Senate election in the ACT for two Senate seats but some sections of the media are doing their best to ignore the existence of the Australian Democrats and the other candidate, independent John Glynn. Australian Democrats preferences are likely to decide the result in an expected close contest.

“Almost all the focus has been on Labor, Liberal and Green. My party, the Australian Democrats, seems to be overlooked yet again,” said Australian Democrats Senate candidate for the ACT, Darren Churchill. “The exception was for minor coverage about our preference arrangements – and even then it was from the perspective of the ever-whinging Greens, and our perspective was not given.”

“People say to me, ‘So, you are still around. Why aren’t you mentioned on the radio/TV? Aren’t you doing any media?’ The decision of the ABC in particular, to either ignore or omit us is nothing short of blatant political censorship!” declared Mr Churchill.

“Despite repeated requests to be included on Stateline and other programs, Stateline still went to air last Friday without us and my phonecalls to the ABC on other programs are responded to with ‘we’ll call you back if we have time,’ even when one of the other parties declines to take part.”

“Who gives the ABC the right to decide who the voters are informed about or not?” queried Mr Churchill. “It’s not their place to decide who is in the election or not. The voters of the ACT have a right to be informed about all their choices, not just the big parties.”

“The ABC’s ‘Code of Practice’ 2008, states that in regard to news and current affairs content: ‘Content will be impartial. Editorial judgements will be based on news values. One perspective will not be favoured over others’.” continued Mr Churchill “Why is the ABC determining who is to be heard? It prides itself on being a community broadcaster but the accusation of bias directed at it appears to be right. Is it our ABC or does it belong to the big political parties? All of the candidates have a right to be heard. It’s not democratic! Clearly the ABC has not adhered to it’s own ‘Code of Practice.’”

“Things might be different in other states and territories but Canberra has biased reporting, and the public needs to be informed, particularly for this election, because people are confused about the policies of Labor and Liberal, and the Greens are coming out with some very strange remarks.”

“The Australian Democrats are here. We are a part of this election. And the good people of Canberra are being short-changed!” Mr Churchill concluded.

CONTACT:

Darren Churchill

Australian Democrats Senate candidate for the ACT

darren.churchill@democrats.org.au

Tel: 0412 196 473

Posted in Accountability, Censorship, Federal Election 2010, Senate Campaign 2010, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »

Greens lies make them unworthy of voters trust

16/08/2010

DARREN CHURCHILL

Australian Democrats Senate candidate

Media Release: 16th August, 2010

Greens lies make them unworthy of voters trust

The Australian Democrats have refuted the lies being spread by the ACT Greens about preferences and the willingness to be negotiators, accusing the Greens of being unworthy of voters’ trust.

Interjecting at a GetUp! Senate forum yesterday, at which he was deliberately excluded by the organisers, Australian Democrats Senate candidate for the ACT, Darren Churchill waved a list of environmental outcomes in the air, calling out to the Greens candidate: “Here’s a list of the things for the environment we negotiated with the previous government – all of which you opposed!”

And when the Greens accused Mr Churchill of reneging on a preference deal his response was “That’s a lie!”

Explaining his version of events, Mr Churchill said: “One thing we learned from Chipp was the importance of not allowing anything untrue or inaccurate said or published about oneself, on the public record, to go un-refuted.”

“There was no deal on preferences with the Greens. The Australian Democrats decide where our preferences go, not the Greens. And voters always have the option of voting below the line.”

“But it’s all about who is prepared to act in the interest of the ACT. Being prepared to cross the floor against your party line in the interest of your constituents is what ‘keeping the bastards honest’ is all about. Kate Lundy is bound by her party rules and would be expelled for crossing the floor. The Greens can’t be trusted. Over two decades we have found that the Greens have misrepresented the Democrats again and again.

“That leaves small ‘l’ Liberal Gary Humphries, who has crossed the floor for the ACT in the past. If I am unsuccessful in being elected, then Gary Humphries is the least worst alternative for Canberra.” continued Mr Churchill

“As for the claim that the Greens want immediate action on the environment there must have been some latter day conversion. But I doubt it – although the Rudd Government’s ETS was flawed, it would have been a start, it would have been better than nothing, but the Greens voted it down.

“By contrast a list provided to me by our former parliamentary leader shows where the Australian Democrats achieved environmental outcomes in negotiations with the previous government,” said Mr Churchill.

“It reads: ‘We also negotiated hundreds of amendments to the new (in 1999) Federal environment laws, strengthening them very substantially. Before that the Commonwealth had very few powers over development impacting on the environment. (We started this reform by initiating and chairing an inquiry reporting in 1997 on the need for Commonwealth environment law.)

Thanks to our negotiation, Australia had for the first time, standards governing fuel emissions and eventually matched Europe’s standards

We negotiated renewable energy for thousands of off-grid, remote communities that previously relied on diesel for power generation.

And two extensions of the rooftop PV grants.

We negotiated $400 million to leverage large scale energy efficiency in big industry.

The Greens opposed all the above.’

“This clearly shows where the Australian Democrats have negotiated good things for the environment, while the Greens have just huffed and puffed and talked and told lies.”

“If I am elected, I will continue the good work of the Australian Democrats. We need action, not just talk on the environment. I will deliver, because you deserve better!” Mr Churchill concluded.

CONTACT:

Darren Churchill

Australian Democrats Senate candidate for the ACT

darren.churchill@democrats.org.au

Tel: 0412 196 473

Posted in Accountability, Climate Change, Environment, Federal Election 2010, Media Releases, Senate Campaign 2010, Uncategorized, Values | Leave a Comment »

Climate change – Nuclear power still not a solution

14/08/2010

MEDIA RELEASE: Election 2010: Saturday, 14th August 2010

Climate change – Nuclear power still not a solution

Nuclear power still costs the earth and is not a solution for reducing greenhouse gas emissions say the Australian Democrats.

The Australian Democrats’ lead candidate in the ACT, Darren Churchill, who will be attending the Walk for Warming rally at Parliament House tomorrow, says that only genuine ecologically sustainable energy sources can make the difference.

“Those advocating nuclear power do not take all stages of the nuclear fuel cycle into account, such as the damage caused by uranium mining. The expansion of the Roxby Downs mine in South Australia on its own will account for a one percent increase in Australia’s total greenhouse gas emissions.

“With less than a week to go before the Federal election, today will be an opportunity for candidates to pin their colours to the mast, and in my team there is 100% agreement that climate changes is human induced and that we need urgent action.

“Voters need assurance that they are electing candidates who base their views on science and not economic greed or religious faith.

“Tony Abbott’s latter day conversion to belief in climate change is electoral pragmatism, and comments last week by the Liberal member for Bradfield in NSW that potential for low-carbon technologies was rhetoric should give voters pause for thought.

“The Labor Party pandered too much to business in their ETS, and The Greens were useless by voting it down completely. Had the Democrats been in the parliament we would have negotiated with the Government to improve the package and get something through.

“With the Liberal Party wanting to slowly greenhouse gas us to death, the Labor Party wanting another talkfest and the Greens just blocking, Australians certainly deserve better than what they have offered. With the Democrats back in the parliament Australians can be sure that actions to deal with climate change will supported and always improved,” said Mr Churchill.

Further comment:

Darren Churchill

Australian Democrats Senate candidate for the ACT

Tel: 0412 196 473

Posted in Climate Change, Environment, Federal Election 2010, Senate Campaign 2010, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »

Opposition to gay marriage – same old pathetic excuses

14/08/2010

MEDIA RELEASE: Election 2010: Saturday, 14th August 2010

Opposition to gay marriage – same old pathetic excuses

Bigoted comments by right-wing Christians simply add credibility to the campaign being waged for same-sex marriage say the Australian Democrats.

The Australian Democrats’ lead candidate in the ACT, Darren Churchill, says that he will be proud to be attending the Same Sex Marriage protest rally in Petrie Plaza today and making a stand against their zealotry.

“It seems that every day we hear the shrill statements of one or another of these fundamentalists. Earlier in the week the lead Family First candidate in Queensland immortalised herself by claiming that legitimising gay marriage is like legalising child abuse.

“By Thursday we heard the blatant arrogance of the Australian Family Association saying that the Federal Government should provide cash bonuses to people who get married, but that should never apply to same sex couples.

“Contrary to what these scared people believe, the world would not fall apart if the Marriage Act allowed for legal same-sex marriage. It has happened without calamity in various places around the world and the Democrats have previously introduced legislation to this end.

“Unfortunately the leaders of these fundamentalist groups excel in the politics of hatred and fear.

“But examine the claims they make such as homosexuality being a lifestyle choice and it becomes very clear that they are misleading.

“Why would someone choose to be vilified, abused, insulted and assaulted as a lifestyle choice?

“Same sex attracted people are fully-fledged human beings, and not a sub-class. They deserve the same rights and respect as every other human being, and to be judged on their merits, such as their human-kindness, just as the Christian bigots should be,” said Mr Churchill.

Further comment:

Darren Churchill

Australian Democrats Senate candidate for the ACT

Tel: 0412 196 473

Posted in GLBTI, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »

PHAA’s “Great Election Public Health Debate and Dinner”

14/08/2010

A Speech made to the Public Health Association of Australia’s “Great Election Public Health Debate and Dinner” – Canberra, Tuesday 10th August, 2010.

Thank you. I’m Darren Churchill, Australian Democrats Senate candidate for the ACT.

I must say it’s good to hear people finally addressing plain wrap packaging for cigarettes and tobacco products. The Australian Democrats have been at the forefront of the campaign against tobacco advertising. And this issue in particular is something Dr Arthur Chesterfield-Evans of the NSW Democrats has been hopping up and down about for a long time.  So, an Australian Democrats achievement there.

The Australian Democrats regard the highest priority for public health attention at the national level over the next term of government as being: Mental health – particularly early intervention and social supports; Prevention – particularly diet related; and Dental Health – particularly for middle to low income earners.

Australia’s focus has always been too much on acute care and too little on healthy lifestyles. Governments can do much more in education, public information, labeling of food and alcohol products and tighter regulation of advertising to discourage junk food and alcohol use.

For General practice we aim to address the Schedule Fee shortfall for standard and long consultations, which is a big cost the Medicare levy is not covering and has led to doctors shortage, particularly noticeable in Canberra and region. The GP Superclinics are not the answer with their patients as clients model and revolving door attitude to health care which is incongruent with GP’s being able to provide the frontline of preventative services in both physical and mental health services.

The Democrats have been at the forefront of calling for volumetric taxation on alcohol. We advocate: more explicit labeling on the alcohol content of drinks, on the health risks to minors and on safe levels of consumption; tax all alcohol products according to alcohol content and introduce the same tax and excise treatment to low and mid strength Ready To Drink beverages and wine as is applied to low and mid strength beer.

For programmes designed to improve health outcomes for disadvantaged groups, we recognise that women are a disadvantaged group in many ways and most particularly because of the impact on them of family violence. Our Women’s health policy calls for: increased funding for violence prevention, including public education campaign to challenge and eliminate violence-supportive attitudes and behaviour and to promote respectful relationships; teacher training in providing programmes for sexual health and respectful relationships, mental health and wellbeing, bullying, body mage, self harm and depression.

(Spontaneous applause occurred here)

Thank you.

For the disabled we call for: funding of annual comprehensive health checks for all Australians with a long term disability and encourage greater expertise in the medical profession in dealing with people with disabilities; establishing a national disability insurance scheme; substantially increase funding to in supported accommodation, respite and personal attendant services, using a population-based benchmark approach; a National Equipment Strategy to ensure people with disabilities can afford and access disability aids and equipment; ratifying and incorporating into law the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

People with mental illness are arguably the most disadvantaged in society. Our comprehensive mental health policy calls for $3-4 billion a year more to be spent in mental health to more closely reflect its prevalence and: Primary and early intervention with a national system of community-based mental health centres staffed by psychiatrists, psychologists, GPs and psychiatric nurses; training for clinicians in screening for co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders and in evidence-based treatments; programmes in schools and in the community to promote mental health and wellbeing and to address bullying, violence against women and children, alcohol use, body image, self harm and depression.

For Youth: a doubling of HeadSpace youth mental health clinics providing specialist consultations; and a national system of mental health centres for young people with emerging serious mental illness and substance problems providing: integrated assessment, crisis response, outpatient case management, inpatient care, group based treatments, mentoring, counselling and employment assistance

We advocate case management for at least 12 months after discharge from acute care; more secure extended care units and community based care units for those at very high risk; as well as universal screening of prisoners for mental illness, treatment while in prison, and release to supported accommodation; and among other things to guarantee consumers’ rights to be consulted on treatment and services; first aid training in mental health for those routinely in contact with people who may have mental health problems, especially teachers and police; ongoing programmes to destigmatise mental illness, identify early symptoms and treatment options and provide hope for living well with mental illness.

We want A National Institute for Mental Health with a quarantined budget.

For Indigenous Health: Better pre-service training and support for nurses in very remote Aboriginal communities and a minimum of 2 nurses in each clinic; improved availability in outback and remote Indigenous stores of affordable, nutritious food; breakfast and lunch provided at very low cost in all schools; support for Indigenous communities to tackle family violence and substance abuse, eg sexual assault services, outreach centres, safe houses, and legal aid; expanded sexual health education and awareness programmes; increase oral health promotion activity and targeted oral health services; comprehensive health services for the prison population; and better accommodation and transport options for Indigenous patients.

Dental Health. A national public dental health programme that is free for concession card holders and special needs groups, and which includes a full dental check-up and basic dental treatment every two years; outreach services for special need groups, particularly Indigenous Australians; and a programme of research into oral disease prevention and the effect of changing diet patterns on oral health.

Here are our plans for responding to climate change (which we have acknowledged does affect health) and our position on a carbon tax

We support an emissions trading scheme with all the watering down changes negotiated with the Coalition reversed and all permits auctioned by 2015.

The money raised in selling permits should be re-invested in major solar, wind and geothermal power generation and extending the power grid to reach these new projects; a home insulation programme with strict safety standards, ramped up over the next 8 years, allowing sustainable industry growth; and a prohibition on new coal-fired power generators and closure of the worst polluting generators over next 5 years using tight emissions standards.

Should government proceed to a carbon tax, we suggest: a carbon tax of $20/tonne until emissions trading commences; a tax on coal exports of $5/tonne, using revenue ($600m) to fund 60,000 household PV grants/year; national feed in tariffs set to allow the cost of household solar PV panels to be recouped within 5 years; and compliance with European standards of energy efficiency in vehicles, and grants for natural gas and electric vehicle refuelling infrastructure.

The Australian Democrats say the following principles should apply in designing a carbon tax:

•It should apply to CO2 emissions from the consumption of all fossil fuels and industrial processes such as oil refining and those using chemical reactions such as chemical fertiliser and cement production;

•It should be revenue neutral with the revenue raised rebated to households at a flat rate low income earners and/or to fund programs supporting greenhouse emission reduction opportunities not adequately captured by the carbon tax such as public transport;

•The price should start in 2011 at $20/tonne and be ramped up at $5/yr to $45/tonne in 2016 as a firm recommendation. This rate of increase would be expected to continue up to $70/tonne in 2021 but with a review each year after 2014;

•Imports should be subjected to an equivalent charge;

•Australia should press for a global system of carbon taxes in which each country levies an internationally harmonised carbon price or carbon tax on emissions.

Thank you.

(This is a refined and edited version of the speech actually given. I was not actually invited to participate in the debate. However, I thank PHAA’s CEO, Michael Moore, for allowing me the time to speak and present the Australian Democrats’ position.)

Posted in Darren Churchill, Federal Election 2010, Health, Mental Health, Senate Campaign 2010, Speeches, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »

Speech: ‘Harm reduction is the guiding principle of Australian Democrats drug policies’

09/08/2010

“Candidates on Drugs Forum” – Families and Friends for Drug Law Reform – 9th August 2010

‘Harm reduction is the guiding principle of Australian Democrats drug policies’

Thank you.

I have a long history of supporting and advocating for drug law reform (as does my party).

As a bit of background, you might like to know what started my interest in drug law reform. Initially, it was school debates on legalisation of marijuana and heroin. I found the arguments fascinating.

Then as a university student in the 1980s, I joined the National Organisation for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML). The co-patrons of NORML were two of my heroes: Don Chipp (the first leader of the political party which I now represent) and Sir John Gorton (former Australia Party and Liberal Movement backed, independent Senate candidate for the ACT). If you haven’t picked up the connection there, I’m just pointing out that the progressive centre has always had a keen interest in drug law reform – a position which I now inherit as the current Australian Democrats candidate.

In the 1990s, I was a strong supporter of the proposed Heroin Trial and a safe-injecting room in the ACT. And this is a position, which my party has strongly advocated in ACT elections.

More recently, I have been quite outspoken about the idea that Random Roadside Drug Testing laws must be based on scientifically established driver impairment levels.

Reducing the level of damage inflicted by illicit drugs lies at the heart of the Australian Democrats drug policies.

The users of drugs are our sons and daughters, our brothers and sisters and our friends. They are not another species of human beings that deserve to be marginalised.

Drug abuse costs the community dearly. It touches not only the families who suffer from a loved one’s addiction, but all of us who pay the price for increased burglary to gain funds for drugs, and the cost of legal services and prison for those convicted.

The simplistic prohibitionist approach to illicit drug use has proved no more successful than prohibition of alcohol in the United States during the 1930s. Just as prohibition spawned a powerful criminal underworld, the ‘war on drugs’ is furnishing drug warlords with massive profits. Those profits are being used to corrupt both police and customs officials.

If these drugs are so dangerous, why do we leave the Mr Bigs in charge of them?

The Australian Democrats understand that zero tolerance does not work and only ends up costing the community money and lives, and keeps drug prices artificially higher, which provides greater incentive for more drug-related crime.

The criminalisation of drug abuse imposes a significant cost on the community and does very little to reduce drug use. It often means unnecessary exposure to the criminal justice system, and places drug users in a prison environment that may actually make their drug habit worse.

There is much evidence to suggest that burglary is most often drug related. In the ACT, the Democrats have called for increased research and support into alternative forms of punishment and rehabilitation for drug-related offences, such as a specialised drug court.

Prohibitionist and ‘tough on drugs’ approaches to illicit drugs are not working. Our lawmakers have repeatedly failed to base their decisions on the available scientific information about drugs. Drug and alcohol issues are more appropriately dealt with as health rather than criminal matters.

Nor is the ‘just say no’ approach to educating young people about the dangers of drugs effective. Where the message is heard at all it is often perceived as paternalist and hypocritical.

The Australian Democrats believe that effective education and realistic policies are the key to reducing all forms of drug use.

Many young people are impervious to the antidrug message when delivered by the ‘authorities’. We need much better information about what young people really think about drugs. That knowledge can then be used to develop more effective peer group education programs.

Until we strike the right balance, the war on drugs will continue to be a war upon ourselves. That balance falls between effective education and the judicious use of the criminal law.

This is to ensure that financial resources, and police and court time, are not wasted on the unnecessary prosecution and imprisonment of drug users and addicts; the focus instead should be on getting addicts the treatment they need. Police should concentrate their efforts on organised drug pushers and gangs.

We believe that drugs policy should always be based on independent scientific advice, which includes advisory bodies on the misuse of drugs being completely independent of government.

The vast majority of drug-related harm in Australia comes from the legal drugs, alcohol and tobacco. With alcohol proving to be one of the most dangerous drugs being regularly consumed in our society, lifestyle advertising of alcohol must be curtailed so as to allow information only about brand, variety, price and sale points.

The Australian Democrats support trials of cannabis, ecstasy and heroin for medical purposes.

There is good evidence to show that ecstasy might be useful in the treatment of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder; and heroin is still used in some overseas hospital systems to alleviate pain.

I advocate decriminalisation of the possession and use of cannabis with a nationwide expiation system for personal use of marijuana.

Turning otherwise law-abiding people into criminals for the personal use of marijuana would be foolish and counterproductive. A supervised medical trial should also be conducted on the efficacy of cannabis as a pharmaceutical drug. Overseas research has suggested that the medicinal use of cannabis can be useful in alleviating pain of those suffering from cancer and other painful diseases.

Consideration should also be given to the idea that a way be found for a tax to be levied on the sale of cannabis.

Drug driving testing should extend to doctor-prescribed drugs, many of which are far more dangerous than recreational drugs; once a scientific means of determining a 0.05 BAC equivalent level of impairment can be established.

I’ll finish with a quote from Abraham Lincoln, which I think beautifully describes the criminal vs health approach to drugs:

“A prohibition law strikes a blow at the very principles upon which our government was founded … Prohibition goes beyond the bounds of reason in that it attempts to control a man’s appetite by legislation, and makes a crime out of things that are not crimes.”

Posted in Drugs and Alcohol, Speeches | Leave a Comment »

Democrats release GLBTI action plan

09/08/2010

MEDIA RELEASE: Election 2010: 9th August 2010

Democrats release GLBTI action plan

The Australian Democrats are proud and loud about releasing their action plan for GLBTI people.

Lead Senate candidate for the Democrats in NSW, Fiona Clancy, who is a lesbian, says that GLBTI people would have a real champion in parliament if they put us back in the Senate.

“My first step would be to introduce a human rights charter that enshrines the right of equality under the law for GLBTI people.

“While both Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard have baulked at recognising same sex marriage, with such a charter in place there would be no need to even have that argument” said Ms Clancy.

Tim Neal, the no.2 Senate candidate in Tasmania and a gay man, attacked laws that effectively entrench discrimination. “It is therefore not surprising to find that approximately 25% of gays aged between 16 and 24 will attempt suicide”.

Gay man, Mark Carey, and candidate for the seat Indi in Victoria, says the party believes it is important to develop a national health plan for GLBTI people.

“The health statistics show that same-sex attracted people are far more likely than heterosexuals to experience homelessness, use drugs, have chronic health conditions or experience depression.

Jen Mitchell, a lesbian and the no.2 Senate candidate in NSW says that the action plan is forward thinking in that it deals with GLBTI people and ageing issues.

“We want residential aged care facilities to recognise GLBTI people as a special needs group so that couples can share rooms together by right and not by fight” said Ms Mitchell.

“Three decades ago the Democrats began fighting in parliament for a fair go for GLBTI people, including the introduction of legislation for same sex marriage. We have a proud history and a strong belief that all Australians have a right to equality under the law,” said Ms Clancy.

Further comment: Fiona Clancy, phone 0451 822 192

Tim Neal, phone 0413 535 502

Mark Carey, phone 0418542070

Posted in GLBTI, Human Rights, Sexuality | Leave a Comment »

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