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Apologies for the sound on this one – you may need to turn up your volume
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Ben Mostyn
Academic Fellow, LLB (UNSW) MA (South Florida)
Sydney Law School
Mr Mostyn’s primary research interest is global drug policy. His PhD is examining National Archives documents around Australia’s decision to sign the 1988 United Nations drug convention. He is looking at whether global forces and institutional forces caused Australia to sign the convention and further entrench the global War on Drugs. Related to this research, Mr Mostyn is interested in criminalisation, police powers, drug law reform and regulating global drug markets. Mr Mostyn has worked as a Legal Aid solicitor in human rights law, administrative law, and family law. He completed his Masters at the University of South Florida where he researched transnational social movements and the War on Drugs with a focus on South America.
Emeritus Professor The Hon Dr Geoff Gallop AC
Former Premier of Western Australia
Global Commission on Drug Policy
Emeritus Professor The Hon Dr Geoff Gallop AC was a Member of Western Australia’s Legislative Assembly for 20 years, a Minister in the Lawrence government (1990-93), including Minister for Education and Premier from 2001 to 2006. He was Director of Sydney University’s Graduate School of Government (2006-15) developing programs and teaching in the area of public sector policy and management in Australia, Africa and South-East Asia. From 2007-11 he was Deputy Chair of the COAG Reform Council. Today he is a member of the Global Commission on Drug Policy and chairs the Research Committee of the New Democracy Foundation.
Dr Alex Wodak AM
President, Former Director of Alcohol and Drug Service
Australian Drug Law Reform Foundation
Dr Alex Wodak was the Director of the Alcohol and Drug Service at Sydney’s St. Vincent’s Hospital from 1982 to 2012. He’s currently President of the Australian Drug Law Reform Foundation. Alex was also President of the International Harm Reduction Association from 1996 to 2004. He helped establish the first needle syringe programme and the first medically supervised injecting centre in Australia when both were pre-legal. Dr Wodak often works in developing countries on HIV control among injecting drug users. He contributed in 2011 to the Global Commission on Drug Policy. He is a Director of Australia21 and contributed to their report on drug policy. In 2010, Dr Wodak was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM).
Timeline
02:13 Geoff Gallup – WA Experience
03:45: Keeping the public involved – public summit – consultation with police service
05:30: The sky didn’t fall in – change in govt and the Liberals abolished the legislation
07:00: Made the change but didn’t have the political weapons to retain that change
07:50: The current Labor govt in 2025 – attitude?
08:15: The Irish Assembly approach
09:00 Alex Wodak – The arrival of HIV, working at St Vincents
10:00 High risk groups
12:00 Gay population in Sydney and dedication to changing the narrative on HIV through action and concentration of resources
13:00 How to apply same thinking to intravenous drug using population
15:45: Don’t ask for permission – just do it- used own funding to hand out needles for free
17:00: Political interference by US embassy / UN – told to stop in by powers that be in NSW – refused
20:10: Lesson learnt – Govt too slow to move – Minister sent police to “interview” Wodak
22:30: Every $ spent on needle exchange programmes $28 saved according to studies
23:20: Ben Mostyn – Study on infections question
24:08: How to think about to forcing govt into a regulation conversation(s) – Gay rights & marriage equality a good example of how to engender reform
26:30: Nonsense policies on tobacco & vaping – destined to collapse – holding Australia back on cannabis reform
27:20 Ben Mostyn Breaking the law leads to good outcomes – failure of Labour governments to move on cannabis regulation – Internation thoughts?
29:30 Geoff Gallup – International Landscape – The UN
29:54: Human Rights at UN & drug policy – Colombia approach – strong vote in favour of Colombian proposals – There is current movement within the UN
33:20: South Africa & The Rastafarian approach
34:30: Positive for the future – Momentum in play as we speak (Alex Wodak) The Vienna Consensus is over
37:45: Ben Mostyn – less pessimistic about UN changes – looking for the open window – minor concessions by UN / politicians
39:30: Andrew Kavasilas – comments from the floor about the Australlian experience
42:20: Brian Walker – Law & False Premise concept – International law based on a lie – what does that mean?
44:10: Ben Mostyn legislation says what it says
45:00: Rhys Cohen question & thoughts re current US political thought on cannabis reform – the back & forth on the topic between state & federal and within the GOP
49:00: Alex Wodak data & costs argument re politics & politicians – modest reform brings positive benefits
51:00: Rhys Cohen question to Geoff Gallup – knowing what you know now what are your thoughts? It’s all about managing opposition
52:00: Taxes issue? Moves legalization forward?
53:00: Ben Mostyn wrap up
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Sean Hocking
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