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Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern lukewarm on further drug law reform
12 Apr, 2021 10:52 PM
5 minutes to read
PM Jacinda Ardern wants personal drug possession to be treated as a health issue. Video / Mark Mitchell
PM Jacinda Ardern wants personal drug possession to be treated as a health issue. Video / Mark Mitchell
Derek Cheng is a political reporter for the New Zealand Heraldderek.cheng@nzme.co.nz
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern won t say whether she thinks a 1 per cent uptake for drug users engaging with health services is good enough in light of the Government s health-based approach.
She is also lukewarm on reforming the Misuse of Drugs Act, despite the widely-held view among those in the health and addictions sector - as well as a 10-year-old Law Commission report - that the law is long out of date and no longer fit or purpose.
Fiefdoms to obliviousness to organisational culture
This exposure got me to thinking whether, several Director-Generals later, the existence of Ministry fiefdoms had changed. It seems not. But there is more to the fiasco than this. In todayâs world fiefdoms within such an important institution as the Health Ministry indicate a high level of obliviousness. This goes to the heart of undermining the overall trust and confidence in the Ministry of government, the wider health sector (including health professionals, district health boards and non-government organisations) and the public.
Obliviousness has two different (not necessarily alternative) meanings. The first is lacking remembrance, memory, or mindful attention. This isnât the case in this instance. But the second, lacking active conscious knowledge or awareness (especially the latter) applies.
Health Minister Andrew Little has shot down calls for a swift overhaul of drug laws, saying any major change would first have to go back to a referendum.
Misuse of Drugs Act overhaul off the cards for now, Andrew Little says msn.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from msn.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.