In my state of New South Wales, two people tragically died and 15 others were hospitalised from suspected overdoses at the Defqon 1 festival over the weekend. My heart goes out to their families. As a mother of two young people, I can't imagine a more heartbreaking situation. I can't help but think that maybe the situation could have been quite different if pill testing or checking was available at the venue. My blood really does boil that we will never know, because the only thing stopping the harm minimisation approach to pills is a stubborn New South Wales Liberal-National government.

Tuesday, 21 August

Thalidomide Group Australia – a group representing forgotten survivors of the pharmaceutical disaster - said today they were thankful that after more than four years of campaigning, politicians had finally woken up to their plight.

Thalidomide Group Australia Spokesperson Lisa McManus said:

The Greens will pursue a Private Senators Bill when Parliament returns next month to ensure that any access to my health record data by law enforcement would require a warrant, Leader of the Australian Greens Dr Richard Di Natale said.

“If you want to access someone’s medical records, you should have to have a warrant, simple as that," Di Natale said.

"There is no justification for the lesser standard, and Minister Hunt has been all over the place on what data can be released, and to whom.

In response to the latest Four Corners episode detailing how patients in the private health system can face massive out-of-pocket costs, Australian Greens Leader Dr Richard Di Natale today called on Health Minister Greg Hunt to help tackle high out-of-pocket health costs through ensuring transparency of practitioner fees, as recommended in a 2017 Senate Inquiry chaired by the Greens.

Greens Leader Dr Richard Di Natale today welcomed reports that the Northern Territory Government is considering removing criminal penalties for personal cannabis use and called for a national approach for drug law reform, including legalising cannabis for adult use and removing criminal penalties for all personal drug use.

Greens Leader Dr Richard Di Natale will today announce the party’s plan to legalise cannabis for adult use. Dr Di Natale said our current approach to drugs in this country is an unmitigated disaster and that it is time for real reform.

“The war on drugs has failed. Governments around the world are realising that prohibition of cannabis causes more harm than it prevents. It’s time Australia joined them and legalised cannabis for adult use,” Dr Di Natale said.

The Senate Community Affairs References committee has tabled its report on the risks and impacts of transvaginal mesh implants, which have been carried out since the late 1990’s to treat stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse in women.

“Many women who have had transvaginal mesh implants have had devastating complications resulting in ongoing emotional trauma, embarrassment, shame, depression, debilitating pain, recurring infection and a poor quality of life.

The Coalition Government has not consulted its own Drug and Alcohol Advisory Committee – The Australian National Advisory Council on Alcohol and Drugs (ANACAD) - about its latest plans to drug test income support recipients, it was revealed at estimates today. Leader of the Australian Greens Dr Richard Di Natale said It was clear that the Coalition didn't ask their own experts because they didn't want the truth: that this plan is cruel, wasteful and will make the problem worse.

“The government is defying the will of the senate by blocking terminally ill patients from accessing the medicinal cannabis prescribed by a doctor”, Leader of the Australian Greens, Dr Di Natale said today.

“Ignorance and conservative ideology are getting in the way of patient care - it has to stop. Today I am introducing a Private Senators Bill – Medicinal Cannabis Legislation Amendment (Securing Patient Access) Bill 2017 – to the Senate that will secure terminally ill patient access to medicinal cannabis.