Blog
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‘Like an episode of Jerry Springer…..’
We may not agree about the politics of One Nation’s Victorian state election nominee Warren Pickering. However, from the perspective of an observation of the media response to his drug history it’s extremely concerning to witness the public humiliation Pickering has been subjected to over the past few days. The…
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Victorian Coroner says Improved access to evidence based drug harm reduction services needed in Geelong
Only a few days out from August 31st – International Overdose Awareness Day – and Harm Reduction Australia applauds the decision by Victorian Coroner Simon McGregor to recommend that there be better access to evidence-based drug harm reduction services – including a supervised injecting facility (SIF) – in Greater Geelong.A…
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Another Refusal to Answer from Law Enforcement
AFP’s unanswered questions on Colombia drugs taskforce spark concerns – ABC NewsThe news that the Australian Federal Police refuses to provide budgetary information to theFederal Parliament on their drug related work in Colombia should come as no surprise.Trying to discover just how much of Australian taxpayer funds are being spent…
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Victorian Cannabis Plebiscite Fails
Victorian State Upper House members from the Legalise Cannabis Party have failed in their bid to hold a plebescite into the legalisation of cannabis. A plebiscite is a public vote about a proposed law. A plebiscite is a means to show governments that there is strong public sentiment about a…
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VAADA Statement: Drug Decriminalisation
In the lead up to the 2026 Victorian State Election to be held in November, the Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association (VAADA) is publishing an Election Statement that reflects the priorities of the Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) sector: https://www.vaada.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/DOC_State-Election-Statement_FINAL_16072026.pdf This statement is intended to inform the next State Government…
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Festival Strip Searches Class Action
On 21 July 2022, Slater and Gordon Lawyers and Redfern Legal Centre issued a class action proceeding for people who have been unlawfully searched by NSW Police at all music festivals in NSW between 22 July 2016 and 21 July 2022. On 30 September 2025, the judgment in this proceeding…
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National Press Club – Tobacco Policy has increased harms
The National Press Club presentations on July 22nd discussed the topic “Illicit tobacco – It is costing Australia heaps”.The speakers raised a number of issues relevant to tobacco policy:-have tobacco policies over the past decade been counter productive to reducing the harms associated with tobacco use?-why have many countries been…
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Free naloxone machines rolling out across Victoria
Opioid overdose is the leading cause of drug-related death in Victoria and it can happen to anyone.Naloxone is a free, easy-to-use medication that can temporarily reverse an opioid overdose. You can use naloxone even if you’re not sure whether someone has taken opioidsNaloxone is legal, suitable for people of all…
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Ambulance call outs plummet after injecting room opens in Melbourne.
Some of the following is taken from ABC News report dated Thursday July 9: The success of the Medically Supervised Injecting Room in North Richmond has been demonstrated with recently released report containing data from Monash University and TurningPoint Centre. The report shows ambulance call-outs for heroin related overdoses fell…
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Dr John Crozier’s Opinion Piece on Medicinal Cannabis & Driving Gets It Wrong
In today’s SMH there is an appalling opinion column headlined “As a trauma surgeon, I know cannabis kills. Don’t green-light medicinal drivers” by surgeon John Crozier. It is so full of downright inaccuracies, that I am surprised it got a run. It typifies the response of the naysayers to this…