Event and Ticketing Details
Dates & Times
Tuesday 16 May
6:15 PM - 7:15 PM
Supply reduction, demand reduction and harm reduction are the three key tenets of Australian drug policy.
But these areas attract vastly different levels of funding, attention and reporting. Harm reduction strategies, in particular, ignite controversy and community anxiety. Today, we have only one safe injecting room (in Sydney) and no official means for pill testing at festivals around the country.
Recent studies indicate that Australia has one of the highest usage rates of illicit drugs in the world. Methamphetamine usage in Australia has tripled in the last five years and usage of MDMA and other drugs is surging, too. Despite copious media coverage, especially in relation to the ice epidemic, it seems there is little political appetite to change the status quo.
What’s working in our drug policy and what isn’t? What is the research telling us? What can we learn from other jurisdictions? Our panel will tackle these questions, and your questions, in a full hour of Q&A.
Featuring
Madeleine Morris
Madeleine Morris is a Melbourne-based reporter for ABC television’s 7.30. She was formerly a presenter for the BBC in London and reported from dozens of countries before returning to her native Australia. She is the author of Guilt-Free Bottle-Feeding: Why Your Formula-Fed Baby Can Grow Up To Be Happy, Healthy and Smart, published by Finch.
Nicole Lee
Nicole Lee is Director at 360Edge, a specialist drug and alcohol consultancy, and Professor at the National Drug Research Institute. She is an Australian leader in alcohol and drug clinical policy.
A practicing psychologist with 25 years experience in the substance use and mental health sectors, she’s provided key policy advice to state, commonwealth and international governments, the World Health Organization and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, and has published more than 100 articles, books and practice guides on alcohol and other drug topics.
She’s previously served on the boards of the peek organisations the Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs, the Alcohol and Drug Council of Australia and the Australian Association for Cognitive and Behaviour Therapy. Nicole is a regular commentator in the media.
Stan Winford
Stan Winford is Associate Director at the Centre for Innovative Justice, RMIT University where he is particularly interested in exploring how the justice system can have a positive impact on people’s lives through restorative and therapeutic approaches to justice, as well as the development of justice systems designed and informed by the experiences of those who use them.
Stan is a practising lawyer who has held a number of senior roles in government and community legal services both in legal practice and legal policy. Between 2007 and 2010, Stan was Senior Legal Advisor to the Hon Rob Hulls MP, the Attorney-General and Deputy Premier of Victoria, where he was responsible for advising the Attorney-General on operations, policy and legislation in a range of justice portfolio areas. As the Senior Legal Advisor to the Attorney-General, Stan was involved in major changes to Victorian law as well as the development of solution-focussed courts.
Stan has also been Principal Lawyer and Legal Projects Officer at Fitzroy Legal Service, where he led law reform campaigns and public interest litigation. He also worked as the Drug Outreach Lawyer at Fitzroy Legal Service and as a specialist criminal law advocate for many clients whose contact with the justice system was linked to their drug use.
Stan has published on justice issues and appeared in national and international media as a legal commentator. He is Chair of the Mental Health Legal Centre and the author of the drug offences chapter of the Law Handbook.
Rick Nugent
Rick commenced his appointment as Assistant Commissioner of Eastern Region in September 2015, and brings to this role extensive operational and corporate experience, as well as a strong focus on working with stakeholders, staff development, and continual improvement. With a policing career spanning 28 years, Rick has served in a number of stations and departments across the organisation. In addition to general policing, Rick has performed duties as a detective for a significant portion of his career.
He has undertaken investigations and managed a number of teams responsible for investigating complex serious and organised crimes including homicides, armed robberies, drug trafficking, home invasions and serious sex offences.
Rick and the Region Leadership and Governance Committee work closely with community, private industry, and corporate sector leaders to improve service delivery, prevent crime, and enhance community safety. Rick’s top priority is his commitment to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all members within Eastern Region.
In his spare time Rick enjoys four wheel driving and camping with his family. He runs and swims regularly and participates in the “Pier to Pub” each year.