KUCERA FLIP CLAIM ON DRUGS LAW

HEALTH Minister Bob Kucera has been accused of hypocrisy over his support
for decriminalising cannabis because of the hardline stance he took when he
was a police officer.

Under the Cannabis Control Bill introduced into Parliament last week,
people with two plants or less than 30g of the drug for personal use will
get on-the-spot fines up to $200 and not be treated as criminals.
Opposition drug abuse spokesman Simon O'Brien said evidence that then
assistant police commissioner Kucera gave in 1997 contradicted his position
as Health Minister.

But Mr Kucera said his opponents were criticising a system of
decriminialsation which was simply an extension of the previous
government's policy of cautions.

Mr O'Brien quoted Mr Kucera as telling a parliamentary standing committee
six years ago: "I do not think we are in a position to be able to do
anything about the cannabis laws. We are not informed or involved
enough. It is a very difficult drug to control."

Mr O'Brien also quoted Mr Kucera as saying: "The term harm minimisation has
become synonymous with drugs being good ... That is aboslute
bullshit. They destroy people."

Mr O'Brien said Mr Kucera had changed his view to suit life as a politician.

"Despite his experience and previous strong stance that this drug causes
great harm, Mr Kucera is now prepared to change his view to suit the
policies of his political party," he said.

Mr Kucera said the Opposition had taken his evidence out of context.

"My position has not changed at all," he said. "Essentially what I said to
that inquiry was it was bullshit to say harm minimsation was the only way
to go. Harm minimisation works for some people but not for all people."

Mr Kucera said the Government's policy would be more effective than the
previous government's cautions for first offenders.

The Government had clamped down on the hard edge of cannabis dealing,
toughening thresholds for dealing.

The Opposition said the Government had clearly softened cannabis laws.

"Reducing the offence of possession and cultivation to little more than a
traffic infringement removes the disincentive for people - particuarly
young people - to use or cultivate cannabis," Mr O'Brien said.