Under Speakman’s pilot proposal,which remains under discussion,police would have the discretion to issue drug offenders up to two infringement notices of $400 each. However,penalties would be waived if the offender undertakes a health intervention recommended in the penalty notice.
The attorney-general’s statement followed a report by theDaily Telegraph that the “radical” proposal had been firmly rejected by cabinet over fears it could be perceived as being “soft on crime”.
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Speakman on Wednesday evening denied the plan was soft,arguing that $400 was more than the average penalty a drug user would receive in court for a first offence.
“Rather such a scheme would be connecting drug users with appropriate health treatment,” he said.
“This is hardly radical – we already have an infringement notice scheme in place for drugs at music festivals,but without health interventions.”