Mike Elliott: Minister's Remarks

Extract from Hansard

Legislative Council
24 October 2001

Mike Elliott
Leader Australian Democrats
Member of the Legislative Council

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The Hon. M.J. ELLIOTT: I seek leave to make a personal explanation on the subject of allegations made in the House of Assembly in relation to my views on drugs.

The Hon. M.J. ELLIOTT: Yesterday in the House of Assembly the Minister for Police, the Hon. Robert Brokenshire, talked about a letter he wrote to members of parliament on drug related matters. He noted within his contribution yesterday that he received one letter, and that letter was from me. I will not go through much of what he said, other than one particular sentence which has caused me grave concern, as follows:

Mr Elliott said to me that he wants to see more drugs on our streets and he wants to see more devastation among our young people.

I have a copy of the very short letter I wrote to Mr Brokenshire, in which I stated:

I am sure I feel just as passionately about the issue of drugs and the damage they inflict on our community as you. I have three teenage children, whom I care for greatly, and I was recognised as a dedicated teacher before entering parliament. Despite your honourable intentions, I believe your approach to drugs is doomed to failure because you are not addressing the real problems. Unless you do so, then your approach will in fact make things worse. I am confident that future generations will reflect with dismay on the simplistic approach that is being adopted at present in South Australia.

The Hon. M.J. ELLIOTT: Anyone can see that I never said any of the things that were alleged to have been said by me.

The Hon. T.G. Cameron: He is not alleging that you had a personal conversation with him, is he?

The Hon. M.J. ELLIOTT: No, but to take it further, I visited Mr Brokenshire yesterday and explained that my letter did not bear any resemblance to what he said that I had said. Last evening, just before the adjournment of the House of Assembly, he said the following:

Earlier today, in answer to a question without notice, I said the Leader of the Democrats in another place, the Hon. Mike Elliott, had said that he wants to see more drugs on our streets and he wants to see more devastation to our young people. As a fair-minded person, I wish to clarify this statement. Mr Elliott did not say that he wanted more drugs on the streets, but what I was referring to was the fact that he and the Democrats support a policy that would see the amount of cannabis and other drugs being able to be used legally increased. Let us be crystal clear: the Democrats and their leader are on the record saying that they want to increase the number of cannabis plants allowed for personal use . . . Mike Elliott says that he is personally committed to children and, in that regard, I take him at his word. But let there be no mistake: the policies the Democrats espouse will be devastating to our young people as they would see more drugs and dealers on our streets.

I make quite plain, as I thought I had in the letter to the minister, that I am absolutely deeply committed to my children, I have taught thousands of children and have given many hours over many years to coaching junior sport. I have always encouraged all kids to participate equally, regardless of their ability, as I realise there are many things we can do to try to prevent children using drugs. Any suggestion that in any way I would want, accept or think it is a good thing that people use drugs or that I want more drugs to be used I find absolutely abhorrent. It is reasonable to have honest differences of opinion about what is the best way of achieving that goal of reducing the harm done by drugs in our community, but I was disappointed that for political purposes those sort of accusations were made against me.