Minimum non-interventionism
There has never been much doubt in my mind that Christopher Pyne is quite dim.
I used to love watching him in the days when, on Friday Forum, Lateline would pitch him against Mark Latham. Oh my, there were times when I even felt a little sorry for the pitiable, petulant, naive and bewildered Liberal Federal Member for Sturt. Today is not such a day.
Today, I am horrified at how very little the former Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Aging knows about drug misuse, drug abuse, drug addiction, rehabilitation and wellness. Christopher Pyne has come out today suggesting that Ben Cousins should speak out in support of the federal government’s war on drugs.
“Having been given a second chance and been through rehabilitation, it would be, I think, appropriate for him to join the government’s tough on drugs campaign, because young people in particular will be watching to see what he does in the future. One way to assist those young people would be for him to join the campaign against drugs. A person like Ben Cousins who has admitted to drug use and been rehabilitated can talk with first hand knowledge of the dangers and downsides of drugs use.” – Christopher Pyne.
This is what Brendan Gale– Chief Executive of the AFL Players’ Association had to say specifically about Ben Cousins and illicit drug use in general:
“If a person is apprehended, dealing or using illicit drugs, he’s dealt with under the illicit drug policy, and that is, it’s a diversionary approach. And the focus is on education, rehabilitation, rather than putting him in the criminal justice system. […] but as far as illicit drugs with no performance enhancing effect, where there’s a health issue, and a welfare issue, we provide a medical response, not a punitive one. And that is consistent with all the States and the Federal governments drug diversion principles and that’s something that all experts agree is the best way to change behaviour.”
Then we have Medical Director of the Victorian Addiction Centre- Professor Greg Whelan advising that Ben Cousins’ is at a crucial time in his recovery.
“This (recovery from addiction) is a lifelong problem, just the same as asthma or arthritis or diabetes or oppression are lifelong problems. The biggest risk is in the first three months after people start their treatment, because we know that statistically that’s the time that they’re most fragile and most likely to relapse back to where they were before.”
I’m certain that the Minister for Aging hoped that Ben Cousins could be trotted out in time for the upcoming election with a Drugs are bad message in an effort to breath life into the cadaverous heap that is the WAR ON DRUGS policy.
As usual, Christopher Pyne is a reductionist who really should know better. Shame on you Minister.
Update: Richmond defender and president of the players’ association, Joel Bowden, said the Government’s proposals went against “all the research and all the information we’ve been given”.
Image from here
May 6th, 2007 at 9:59 pm
The great thing about bashing your own head in is that it feels so good when you stop.
See what happens when you put a junior woodchuck in charge (besides really pissing off the real junior woodchucks)?
May 8th, 2007 at 10:14 pm
Nicely put suki.
I am looking forward to the war on drugs, ‘dogs’, being set loose on members in both houses of federal parliament. Random tests, when parls is sitting, or on vacation, should be introduced immediately.
Not for any other reason, than to show that these role models, would not even consider the use of illegal substances or over-indulge in legal drugs, in the course of their normal work day.
After all, they set the standards, and for some reason sportspeople are supposed to cop the turf of their high moral ground.
May 8th, 2007 at 11:01 pm
So true joe2!
Further to your point, if we are honestly discussing substances, based on their harmful effects, then we have to mention alcohol. Alcohol, clearly not being a Drug in the Drugs are bad mantra from this sanctimonious Minister.
No amount of pervasive, negative data from society, including the Police, welfare agencies or women’s groups over the LONGEST period of time, relating to a substance that can be physically addictive, seems to create even a minor concern from the plodding Minister for Aging.
May 9th, 2007 at 6:53 pm
Booze is the number one drug that appears to cause most of the probs, Suki.
Often tastes great, gives the high, many poor sods on earth crave and is socially acceptable, unless you jump into a car, under it’s influence or attack someone…… most likely close to home.
But, of course, it is only a symptom of a general dis-ease. We have a golden triangle , locally, that we are never going to declare war on.
Booze, Macs and cars.
Alcohol , junk food and the propelled metal vehicles are the real terrorists, in our midst, that no one wants to dob in. The main three things that kill, are our close, western addiction.
We need “dim” wits, to find shadows, to fight.
In walks, ‘The Pyne’ , who will undoubtedly remember to torture Alex Wodak etc, etc….. who remind us that we are shooting ourselves in the foot.
May 13th, 2007 at 8:00 pm
If you’d like to see one of the torturous tribulations that will eventually lead to the canonisation of Wodak, read this Hansard transcript.
January 12th, 2009 at 7:02 am
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