18 February 2016
Dear Sir/Madam
The battle against illicit drugs took another step up last week in State Parliament when the Nationals supported tough new laws to combat the growing ice scourge.
The Drugs Poisons and Controlled Substances Amendment Bill 2015 introduced new offences and gave police additional powers in the fight against drugs.
The Victorian Nationals were pleased to support these amendments in particular those which target people who deal ice to school children in or around school premises.
The bill introduces new offences that deal with trafficking drugs of dependence to children and each new offence imposes a higher penalty for the particular criminal conduct when it occurs at or near a school.
The new offence of trafficking in a drug of dependence to a child at or near a school carries a penalty of up to 25 years imprisonment and the new offence of trafficking in a drug of dependence at or near a school carries a penalty of up to 20 years imprisonment.
This is another vital piece of a jigsaw that is extremely important in the continuing battle against drugs in our rural communities.
It sends a message to dealers that we are serious about drug issues and that when our schools are targeted we will not tolerate it.
A copy of the above legislation may be found online at
http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/static/www.legislation.vic.gov.au-bills.html
Yours sincerely
PETER WALSH MP
Member for Murray Plains
Leader of The Nationals