Lynn Ruane (Independent)
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I extend congratulations to Ms Brennan on her new role. I understand that questions may need to be directed elsewhere while she gets to grips with that. When I think of the future of the drugs court, a part of me says, "No, there is no future for the drugs court." That is the little reaction I had, but I had to rewind and say that under what it is hoped will be a decriminalised model, the drugs court will still have another role in drugs-related offences other than drugs possession. I had to quickly separate those two things in my mind. The decriminalisation of an individual for possession is not the only reason a drug user will end up in court, for whatever reason.

I have one question on understanding. I heard that change and progress are subjective. It is very important to understand that, but it was also stated that the first step is to eliminate the primary substance. That is a very mixed message. Is the first rung on the ladder that the primary substance has to be eliminated? That is obviously a goal. If something is causing an issue in someone's life in a way that he or she has found themselves in court, the goal would obviously be to create a safer environment for that individual so they are not using the drug that is causing the most harm. However, if we then look at the piece that progress is subjective, that drug may remain in someone's life for a long period. We can still look at behaviours associated with that drug use and safer use of that drug, if a person is not able to reach that elimination. At that very first step, if someone has not been able to eliminate that primary substance, what happens next?