Drug reform
Analysis
Drugs
Anger, frustration and revolt: Inside the final day of NSW’s drug summit
As the drug summit unfolded, it became dominated by the one topic the government wanted off the table: decriminalisation.
- by Michael McGowan and Angus Thomson
Latest
Exclusive
Chris Minns
Labor pushed on pill testing on final day of drug summit
The Minns government is facing a concerted push from powerful union leaders and MPs to adopt drug reforms such as pill testing and an additional medically supervised injecting centre as the drug summit resumes on Thursday.
- by Alexandra Smith, Angus Thomson and Michael McGowan
‘Worst of both worlds’: The US city with a warning for Sydney about drugs
The decision to invite an American mayor to speak at the NSW drug summit angered some attendees who saw it as an effort to head off calls for decriminalisation.
- by Angus Thomson and Michael McGowan
Opinion
Opinion
Another drug summit? This time, premier, don’t tick boxes – save lives
After Bob Carr’s push in 1999, NSW was regarded as a world leader in drug law and policy. Sadly, it is a mantle we lost long ago.
- by Dan Howard
Analysis
State Parliament
This event has been years in the making, but even the man who wanted it won’t show up
Chris Minns says he wants the drug summit to “challenge the prevailing system”. Some advocates are concerned he won’t be listening.
- by Michael McGowan
Exclusive
State Parliament
Legalise cannabis in NSW? These MPs don’t think it’s a bad idea
Ahead of the long-promised drug summit, three government MPs have supported calls for an overhaul of cannabis laws in NSW.
- by Max Maddison
Updated
State Parliament
‘I’m not sure what they’re hiding from’: Long-awaited drug summit criticised as secretive
A key figure who managed to obtain an invitation called it “the drug summit that you have when you don’t really want to have a drug summit”.
- by Max Maddison, Alexandra Smith, Michael McGowan and Daniel Lo Surdo
Cautious Crisafulli in day-two rethink of LNP’s plan for schoolies
The new Queensland Premier will now “take some advice” about the LNP’s previous vow to scrap pill-testing services at schoolies amid concerns from doctors.
- by Matt Dennien
How Victoria’s pill tests will work – both in the lab and at music festivals
Legislation to allow a pill-testing trial will be introduced to Victorian parliament on Tuesday. The government wants the first mobile sites up and running for the summer festival season.
- by Liam Mannix and Rachel Eddie
‘Terrifying potency’: The overdose-inducing drug invading suburbia
The number of unintentional opioid overdose deaths in Australia has continued to grow, the latest data shows.
- by Amber Schultz
Exclusive
State Parliament
Bob Carr held a drug summit 25 years ago. NSW Labor is repeating history
NSW Labor Premier Chris Minns would have faced a backlash from party members if he had not locked in a date for this election promise.
- by Alexandra Smith