Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I think it is fair to say that Senator Allison’s question was a direct follow-on from the original question and covered exactly the same amount of scope. I cannot do justice to it in a one-minute response. I am not sure I accept that law enforcement has been ineffective. I do not think anyone ever pretends it is the whole answer but I do think it is a question of having a mix of policies. Law enforcement is very important to us in combating the importation of heroin and other illegal drugs. It is perfectly reasonable for us to assess the success of those measures. I think an evidence based approach to these matters is most important, but there is a role for law enforcement, there is a role for education, there is a role for treatment and there is a role for community engagement. All of those things have to be part of any response to the scourge of drugs that we as a community face. If I can get any further information that will assist in answering the senator’s question, I will do so.