Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Hansard source

One Nation will be supporting the standing orders and also the disallowance motion put up by Senator Di Natale. There is chronic pain, PTSD, asthma, nausea from chemotherapy, schizophrenia, glaucoma, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, cancer, metabolic syndrome related disorders, anorexia and so many other ailments. Category A patients—better known as terminally ill patients—have One Nation's support to ensure that, if they are dying, the TGA would not veto their right to quality of life. Through this disallowance motion and under the special access scheme, you would have One Nation's support in accessing medical cannabis oil.

We have a terrific raft of Australian producers coming on board, whom I support wholeheartedly. Take, for example, Medifarm in Queensland. They will be growing and producing medical cannabis oil here in Australia within the next 12 months. In the meantime, I will not stand in the way of dying patients' dignity. I will not stand in the way of patients' right to quality of life. I will not stand in the way of a loving parent who is trying to care for their child. I am tired of governments, both state and federal, turning these good people into criminals for the sake of loving decisions.

One Nation did support the government when the last motion was passed. But we have talked to people throughout Australia, and they have made it apparent to us that they want this. I think I was not informed correctly by the government as to the intentions of their bill. Upon reflection, especially regarding access, it is important that Australians who wish to access medicinal cannabis have every right to do so. When they have other drugs that are readily available yet they cannot access medicinal cannabis, I have a big question mark over why that is. Australians have the right to decide for themselves.

I believe in protecting those people who have been granted licences for the growing, manufacturing and production of medicinal cannabis. I think it is very important to Australia that we have this. But, in the meantime, I think Australians have the right, if they have their prescriptions, to access medicinal cannabis. Doctors should be allowed to prescribe it to them for whatever reason they may need it, and I gave a list of ailments earlier in my speech. One Nation and my colleagues will be supporting the motion put up by Senator Di Natale.