AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL COUNCIL ON DRUGS (ANCD)

The Australian National Council on Drugs (ANCD) is the principal advisory body to the Government on drug policy and plays a critical role in ensuring the voice of the community is heard in relation to drug related policies and strategies.

At the request of the Australian Government in 2003 the ANCD has increased its links throughout the Asia-Pacific region so it is better able to advise the Federal Government on the most appropriate ways to work with our regional neighbours, as well as to learn from their experiences.

To ensure that the ANCD can provide the Federal Government valuable advice it has recently convened a reconstituted committee that comprises individuals with a broad range of experience and expertise in drug policy in the region.  (Please see membership of the ANCD Asia-Pacific Drug Issues Committee (APDIC)) 

At its most recent meeting in 2008 the ANCD Asia-Pacific Drug Issues Committee discussion focused on the following areas:

• providing increased assistance to AusAID to enhance their engagement with the work being undertaken in addressing drug use issues in the region;
• the need for a comprehensive discussion paper on the linkages between development and drug use in the region;
• the need to document the successes and failings of the AusAID funded Illicit Drug Initiative (IDI) projects as a guide for future initiatives – and the need to provide an opportunity for continuation of successful projects;
• their shared concern and distress with the United Nations Office of Drugs & Crime over the continuing and unacceptable use of the death penalty against drug users and traffickers;
• their welcome support for the International Narcotics Control Board announcement of support the increased use of diversion of drug users from the criminal justice system into effective treatment;
• the importance of establishing a mutually beneficial ‘twinning’ program for agencies in Australia, New Zealand and the region;
• the importance of supporting and developing established networks of assistance and information exchange on drug and alcohol issues in the Pacific;
• the need for the United Nations, other international organisations and governments to recognise the important role and contribution of the non-government organisation sector by formally including them in decision making processes;
• the need for international organisations to publicly support and advocate for the introduction of evidence based policy and treatment;
• the importance of the Federal Government investing in the capacity building of countries in the region for drug, alcohol, and HIV policy development, service delivery, research and consumer participation;
• their concern for the safety and well being of many people in Thailand given the proposed re-introduction of the Thailand ‘war on drugs’ and the estimated 2,500 lives lost in its previous ‘war on drugs’;
• the need to develop effective evidence informed policies to address the increased poppy cultivation in Afghanistan without exacerbating the growing HIV and other health and social problems;
• the proposed International Drug Policy Consortium seminar on the UN review of international drug treaties – to be held in Melbourne on the 22nd of May.

 The ANCD Asia-Pacific Drug Issues Committee also agreed that it will be preparing more detailed correspondence on the issues described above to the following people and organisations:

• The Hon Stephen Smith – Minister for Foreign Affairs
• The Hon Nicola Roxon – Minister for Health & Ageing
• The Hon Bob McMullen – Parliamentary Secretary for AID
• The Hon Duncan Kerr - Parliamentary Secretary for the Pacific
• Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade
• AusAID
• Department of Health & Ageing
• United Nations Office of Drugs & Crime
• International Narcotics Control Board

More information on the ANCD Asia-Pacific Drug Issues Committee is available by accessing the ANCD website: www.ancd.org.au or by contacting the ANCD Secretariat:

PO Box 205 Civic Square ACT 2608
P: 02 6166 9600
F: 02 6162 2611

or by contacting Mr Gino Vumbaca, ANCD Executive Director on 0408 244 552