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:
This statement is intended to inform the next State Government on the best ways to guarantee equitable access to a quality system of AOD care and support for all Victorians.
There are four areas that VAADA has included in its statement, however the more progressive policy statement is that ‘by 2030, decriminalise possession of small quantities of illicit drugs in Victoria for personal use, building a system of diversion and support that replicates the Australian Capital Territory’s (ACT) model of drug decriminalisation.’
The Australian Capital Territory’s drug decriminalisation laws are generally considered successful based on official evaluations showing:
– reduced stigma
– lower justice system costs
– no noticable spikes in harmful community behavior
– high health diversion rates
– lower court and police burdens
– no surge in crime or drug abuse
The release of this statement caused a flurry of activity amongst some media outlets in Melbourne. The predictable ‘moral panic’ and polarising of a the drug issue by some journalists and commentators of what should have been an informed debate was almost predictable. Most of what was reported was based on inaccurate and misleading reporting on drug decriminalisation policies in some parts of the USA where fentynal has devasted many communities especially where street-based drug use is confronting.
Unfortunately, reporting on drug issues, especially drug law reform, will be caught up in the escalaltion and sometimes hysteria of an election being fought on drug law and order. Often in these situations evidence and research becomes secondary to emotive headlines and cleverly worded misinformation.
Author: Greg Denham