NSW to run trial of medical marijuana for terminally ill patients CHRIS UHLMANN: The use of medical marijuana to treat terminally ill patients took a step forward yesterday when the Prime Minister threw his support behind clinical trials of the drug. The New South Wales Government will run the trial and look at ways of addressing concerns about the supply and distribution of medical marijuana. Mike Baird is the New South Wales Premier. Good morning. MIKE BAIRD: Good morning, Chris. CHRIS UHLMANN: Premier, why is this trial important? MIKE BAIRD: Oh well its important, Chris, because its an issue that Ive become exposed to, having met families involved in incredibly difficult circumstances - a terminal illness and a family around them looking to provide relief to them - whether it be pain relief or the capacity to eat, which gives them the energy to fight or stay longer with their family and loved ones, and improves their quality of life. And the evidence from them is saying that medical cannabis is helping them, providing some of that relief. And theres advice around the world where this is working. And my sense is that Australia needs to take hold of this and certainly in New South Wales. Theres been a lot of talk around it, but we need to take action because we need the best minds to determine how it can be done and whats the best ways it can be done and provide relief for those in terminally ill situations. CHRIS UHLMANN: Well, the Commonwealth is supportive. Are other states on board? MIKE BAIRD: Well Im very pleased about it, Chris, because what we had yesterday was confirmation that all other states and territories are looking to play a role with us. Were happy to lead the trial. Someone has to get out and start and we will be doing that. And they have come on board and saying that they want to participate. Now, how that looks and what shape, well thats being determined. But I was also pleased that the Prime Minister threw his weight behind it, saying Well lets get on with the work and see what comes of the trials, and Im looking forward to that with relish. CHRIS UHLMANN: You have a working group on this. When will the trial be up and running? MIKE BAIRD: Well they ought to come back before the end of the year. And thered be a lot of complexities around it, which is part of the reason I think it stalled previously. But I said Well lets just make a start, you know. If we have to start a number of trials, but lets make a start, get the work underway. And importantly, you know, you have this position where people with terminal illnesses are finding, almost in their own backyard becoming chemists to try and determine some form of pain relief or relief generally from things like nausea. And my sense is: well why should they be doing it? Weve got some of the greatest minds in the world here in this county. Lets put them to work and let those with the terminal illness, let them put all their strength and energy into looking after themselves and spending time with their loved ones. And we need- so do we need to get on with it, but we wont be able to solve this overnight, Chris. I mean, it is going to time, but you need to start, thats exactly what were doing. CHRIS UHLMANN: So what are some of the hurdles? The use of cannabis of course will require an application to the Therapeutic Goods Administration? MIKE BAIRD: Yeah, I mean thats in a federal context, yes, thats why its great the Federal Government is saying that theyre happy to support the establishment of the trial. And then obviously if there are recommendations that need to be brought forward, well, we will. But, you know, you also need to look at whats the form, in terms of is it pharmaceutical, is it crude. And Im open to all of those. But what I want to do is get it started and get it started as quickly as we possibly can. CHRIS UHLMANN: And just on other matters, the Education Minister Christopher Pyne told us on Monday that schools - and thats in the states - are awash with extra funds from the Commonwealth Government. Do you share that view? MIKE BAIRD: Well theyve certainly committed to the first four years of the Gonski agreement and we believe they should be committing to six years. But certainly over the next four years there is additional money that is coming in from the Commonwealth and also from the states. You know, you go back to the reason weve done that. Well, theres a simple model and thats saying that every student, whatever school system or region, should have the same amount of dollars applied in terms of education, and that has weighted more money towards some of the disadvantaged schools and disadvantaged students and thats a good thing. So were working through that funding and how to apply it and how to include, improve the educational outcomes - particularly to those disadvantaged. And yes, the Commonwealth has supported the first four years and obviously that will make a difference. CHRIS UHLMANN: Well the six years funding when I raised it with the Minister, he said that was an old argument. Is it an argument you intend to continue to make? MIKE BAIRD: Well we have. I mean, I share that with… CHRIS UHLMANN: So its not old to you. MIKE BAIRD: No, no (laughs). I mean, its not. I mean, its an agreement that was made. We absolutely believe that it should be honoured. And we are having discussions in the federation white paper - not just about education but also health. And, you know, we welcome that as a constructive forum because we need... theres a whole range of issues across the federation in the sense of allignment of responsibilities but also fiscally. And some of the funding of our long-term challenges, including education and health, need to be considered. They need to be done collectively and not in a slanging match between State and Federal Governments. And that forum, for the first time, brings us together to do exactly that. CHRIS UHLMANN; Theres a school in New York that receives funding and mentoring from IBM. Tony Abbott says hed like to look at doing that sort of thing here. Does it have any merit? MIKE BAIRD: I mean, I think-I think it does. I mean, you can never say no to ideas or developments that are having an impact around the world. We should be considering it. And why wouldnt we? If there are people, if there are companies wanting to make a role and contribute to the education of our kids, and they do it in a constructive way, well we should be certainly open to considering those. CHRIS UHLMANN: Now yesterday you announced an overhaul of your states political donations system. Hasnt New South Wales become the standard for corruption around the country and what can you do to fix that? MIKE BAIRD: Well I think weve seen events over the past weeks, months and years that have left a lot of the community losing their trust in New South Wales politics. I absolutely understand that. So we have to clean it up and weve taken a range of measures to do it. I mean, we... here in this state have taken actions on lobbyists, weve taken actions on party reform, in terms of our own house. And weve also taken action in terms of donations. When I first came into Parliament, when I said donations were at a corrosive level in New South Wales, my position hasnt changed on that, which is why we have instituted some reform. And the reforms yesterday are about tougher penalties for doing wrong. Theyre also about more transparency, more disclosure of donations, rather than hiding disclosures for 17 months, potentially, after the donation is made. You now must disclose them before the election. A big portion must be disclosed before the election. CHRIS UHLMANN: Okay... MIKE BAIRD: Weve reduced the amount of caps on donations and weve putting more public funding in. Were trying to reduce the influence of donations with more public funding coming in and reforms that needed to be done. CHRIS UHLMANN: Mike Baird, well have to leave it there, thank you. MIKE BAIRD: Thanks, Chris. CHRIS UHLMANN: Mike Baird is the New South Wales Premier. abc.net.au/am/content/2014/s4107234.htm
Posted on: Wed, 15 Oct 2014 10:14:08 +0000
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