Legalise Cannabis Victoria MPs David Ettershank and Rachel Payne took the fight for cannabis law reform back to the Victorian Parliament in November, using the Upper House debate to call out Labor’s hypocrisy on the issue.
The debate, held on Wednesday 19 November, put the Allan Government’s inaction under the spotlight. Both MPs said Labor had ignored its own members and party policy commitments by abandoning meaningful reform.
David reminded the chamber that at the past two Victorian ALP conferences, state Labor members had voted to support legalisation as official ALP health policy and called for immediate decriminalisation.
“Why is Jacinta Allan ignoring the wishes of ALP members and two ALP State Conferences?” he asked.
“Premier Allan has been trying to outdo the Liberals on being tough on crime, yet she continues to waste police and court resources prosecuting a victimless crime – personal cannabis consumption. What hypocrisy.”
He noted that every year around 4,000 Victorians are arrested on cannabis charges, most for possessing or consuming small amounts.
Rachel highlighted the economic and social cost of that approach.
“With the average cost of an arrest sitting around $2,000 per person, it’s a massive waste of taxpayer money,” she said.
“Police and courts should be focused on assaults, domestic violence, and thefts – not people who choose to consume cannabis.”
Labor ignored expert advice
Both MPs criticised the Allan Government for dismissing the findings of a multi-party parliamentary committee, which included Labor representatives and recommended decriminalisation after consulting leading health and legal experts.“This committee looked carefully at Victoria’s cannabis laws,” Rachel said.
“It found that decriminalisation was the sensible, evidence-based way forward – but Labor’s ignored that advice.”
A proven model in the ACT
David pointed to the ACT as proof that reform works. “For five years, Canberrans have been able to grow a few plants and possess small amounts for personal use,” he said. “Arrest rates have plummeted with no rise in hospital admissions, ambulance callouts, or drug-affected driving. It’s a modest, effective model Victoria should follow.”
Reform needed to protect vulnerable communities
Rachel also stressed that current laws disproportionately harm vulnerable groups.
“First Nations, LGBTQ+, CALD communities and young people are far more likely to be caught up in the justice system for cannabis,” she said. “For some, that kind of record can affect housing and employment for years.”
“Aboriginal Victorians are eight times more likely to be arrested for possession and represent almost 10 per cent of cannabis arrests – despite being less than one per cent of the state’s population. It’s shameful.”
Labor has lost its reforming spirit
David reflected on how far Labor has drifted from its reforming roots.
“It was exactly 50 years, one week and one day after Gough Whitlam’s dismissal when this debate took place,” he said. “Labor once led bold social reforms like Medicare and no-fault divorce – now it lacks the courage even to decriminalise cannabis. We are all the poorer for that.”
He also reminded parliament of the late Dr Moss Cass – Whitlam’s environment minister – who famously invited federal senators to share a joint in the early 1970s, suggesting lawmakers should understand the issue they were legislating on
The debate, held on Wednesday 19 November, put the Allan Government’s inaction under the spotlight. Both MPs said Labor had ignored its own members and party policy commitments by abandoning meaningful reform.
David reminded the chamber that at the past two Victorian ALP conferences, state Labor members had voted to support legalisation as official ALP health policy and called for immediate decriminalisation.
“Why is Jacinta Allan ignoring the wishes of ALP members and two ALP State Conferences?” he asked.
“Premier Allan has been trying to outdo the Liberals on being tough on crime, yet she continues to waste police and court resources prosecuting a victimless crime – personal cannabis consumption. What hypocrisy.”
He noted that every year around 4,000 Victorians are arrested on cannabis charges, most for possessing or consuming small amounts.
Rachel highlighted the economic and social cost of that approach.
“With the average cost of an arrest sitting around $2,000 per person, it’s a massive waste of taxpayer money,” she said.
“Police and courts should be focused on assaults, domestic violence, and thefts – not people who choose to consume cannabis.”
Labor ignored expert advice
Both MPs criticised the Allan Government for dismissing the findings of a multi-party parliamentary committee, which included Labor representatives and recommended decriminalisation after consulting leading health and legal experts.“This committee looked carefully at Victoria’s cannabis laws,” Rachel said.
“It found that decriminalisation was the sensible, evidence-based way forward – but Labor’s ignored that advice.”
A proven model in the ACT
David pointed to the ACT as proof that reform works. “For five years, Canberrans have been able to grow a few plants and possess small amounts for personal use,” he said. “Arrest rates have plummeted with no rise in hospital admissions, ambulance callouts, or drug-affected driving. It’s a modest, effective model Victoria should follow.”
Reform needed to protect vulnerable communities
Rachel also stressed that current laws disproportionately harm vulnerable groups.
“First Nations, LGBTQ+, CALD communities and young people are far more likely to be caught up in the justice system for cannabis,” she said. “For some, that kind of record can affect housing and employment for years.”
“Aboriginal Victorians are eight times more likely to be arrested for possession and represent almost 10 per cent of cannabis arrests – despite being less than one per cent of the state’s population. It’s shameful.”
Labor has lost its reforming spirit
David reflected on how far Labor has drifted from its reforming roots.
“It was exactly 50 years, one week and one day after Gough Whitlam’s dismissal when this debate took place,” he said. “Labor once led bold social reforms like Medicare and no-fault divorce – now it lacks the courage even to decriminalise cannabis. We are all the poorer for that.”
He also reminded parliament of the late Dr Moss Cass – Whitlam’s environment minister – who famously invited federal senators to share a joint in the early 1970s, suggesting lawmakers should understand the issue they were legislating on