Blog
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New Health Hub to Open in Melbourne CBD – Another tokenistic Hydromorphone Trial?
Following the Victorian Government’s decision to scrap plans for a second medically supervised injecting facility in the Melbourne CBD due to pressure from the business sector, a building at 244 Flinders Street was repurposed into a comprehensive medical and health facility for disadvanted people to reduce drug harms. The facility…
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“They were courageous. They were evidence-based.”
In a landmark ruling that could alter the fabric of drug policy in Canada, the BC Supreme Court has found that the criminal law used to arrest and convict DULF co-founders Jeremy Kalicum and Eris Nyx is unconstitutionaland were not guity of drug trafficking. For those that aren’t aware, the…
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‘All illicit drug users are contributing to deadly street violence, AFP boss says’
AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett says all Australians who take illicit drugs are contributing to the organised crime violence behind the mistaken shootings of innocent people, as reported on Nine.com.au today. Barrett says ‘there is a direct connection between Australia’s appetite for illicit drugs, the huge profits flowing to organised crime and deadly violence spilling onto suburban…
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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…