Richard Di Natale (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I feel we are in a bit of a circular argument here, but I have already indicated to you a number of examples where a particular substance with an active ingredient produces a psychoactive effect—it may be used for a therapeutic purpose; it may be that somebody who is anxious is prescribed a particular medication from an alternative health practitioner—and that substance is not listed under the exemptions. It is currently being imported, it is being prescribed by an alternative health practitioner and it produces a psychoactive effect. It may be to reduce someone's anxiety; it may be to assist somebody with sleep—some of the reasons that illicit drugs are used. Why is it that that drug—which is going to be used for those indications, which will produce a psychoactive effect and which is not currently listed along with the exemptions in the bill—will not be captured under this definition? I still have not had a satisfactory explanation.