Pubdate: Wed, 09 Apr 2003
Source: West Australian (Australia)
Copyright: 2003 West Australian Newspapers Limited
Contact:  http://www.thewest.com.au
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/495
Author: Ben Harvey

HERB STUNT SPICES UP DRUG DEBATE

THE Legislative Assembly was in uproar yesterday when Opposition Leader 
Colin Barnett produced plastic bags full of a green substance, later 
revealed to be parsley, during debate on cannabis laws.  The following is 
an edited extract of the debate between Mr Barnett, leader of the House 
John Kobelke, Health Minister Bob Kucera and shadow police minister Matt 
Birney:

Barnett: This is how many 1g foils of cannabis they will get for their 
30g.  I apologise to the staff for those foils that fell on the floor.

Kobelke: I am not an expert in criminal law but the Leader of the 
Opposition appears to be breaking the law.  I asked him by way of 
interjection whether that is an illegal substance.  I know he cannot be 
arrested in the Chamber but it puts the Chamber in a difficult 
position.  Is that cannabis?

Kucera: Are you putting on record that you are in possession of cannabis?

Deputy Speaker: It is not my place to make a judgment call on whether 
someone's activity is illegal or otherwise.  Therefore, there is no point 
of order.

Barnett: What I demonsrate is that this small amount for personal use, this 
30g of cannabis, does not sound much.  This is not a small amount.

Kobelke: Are you really a dealer or are you just pretending to be one?

Barnett: I laid those foils on the table for the balance of today's 
sitting.  I request that the Leader of the House does not interfere with them.

Kobelke: I do not believe there is a point of order.  These items were 
simply thrown on the table of the chamber.  I have reason to believe that 
the Leader of the Opposition may have committed an offence and I am taking 
the items as evidence.  It may not contain cannabis but it is an offfence 
when somone falsely represents something that could be an 
offence.  Therefore, I will seek legal advice on whether the matter should 
be referred to the police.

Deputy Speaker: There has been no formal tabling of the substance in 
question.  The matter is between the Leader of the Opposition and the 
leader of the House.

Barnett: I ask you Madam Deputy Speaker to rule on the separate matter that 
the leader of the House took some of my property from the Chamber without 
my approval.

Deputy Speaker: There is no point of order.

Birney: The leader of the House squirrelled or slithered his way around 
here and stole what was clearly the Leader of the Opposition's property and 
he has now taken off with it.  I am no expert at law but it looks like 
theft.  If the leader of the House does not think there is anything wrong 
with it when I sit down I will go over to his seat and take his 
notebook.  I will get all of his notes, his ministerial files and anything 
that is on his desk and I will take it.

The debate continued.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart