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.

The Greens will move for a Senate inquiry to examine the Medicare data issues that have come to light in recent days, said Australian Greens leader Dr Richard Di Natale.

"We have grave concerns about the breaches in Medicare data that have been discovered only because of the hard work of committed journalists," Dr Di Natale said.

"To discover that individuals’ private Medicare data has been shared, and sold, by shady interests is of grave concern."

This budget fails Australian patients, has zero vision for the future of the system and is a political fix, pure and simple. The Government’s plan to lift the Medicare freeze will have no impact for patients for at least a year, if not longer, leader of the Australian Greens Dr Richard Di Natale said.

“Greg Hunt’s ‘road map’ for health lacks any vision for the future of healthcare in this country. It’s a U-turn that takes us back to where we were three years ago. 

Australian Greens Leader Dr Richard Di Natale today said:

“Immunisation is one of the most successful public health initiatives ever, and has led to millions of lives being saved all over the world.

“Vaccines are a victim of their own success with many life-threatening illnesses now a distant memory in Australia but a decline in immunisation rates could see the return of some of these devastating diseases.

“As a doctor and a public health specialist, I urge all Australian parents to ensure that their kids are immunised.

“The drug overdoses that occurred last night are another reminder that both state and federal governments are failing young Australians. We need politicians to do what they’re paid to do - make laws that put people’s safety first," Senator Richard Di Natale, leader of the Australian Greens said today.
 
“We know that young people will continue to try drugs. We can’t stick our heads in the sand and pretend it’s not going to happen. What we need to do is give them the tools they need to make educated choices.