Review of the Narcotic Drugs Act 1967 - Public meetings

The TGA will be hosting three public meetings regarding the Review of the Narcotic Drugs Act 1967. These meetings will take place early in 2019 in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. The dates for the events are set out below, with the venue details in each city to be confirmed as soon as possible in the New Year.

The Hon Greg Hunt MP, Minister for Health, has appointed Professor John McMillan AO to review and report on the operation of the Narcotic Drugs Act.

The Narcotic Drugs Act establishes a framework to both prevent abuse and diversion of controlled narcotics and to ensure the availability of such drugs for medical and research purposes, in accordance with the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs. Since October 2016, the Act was extended to provide for the regulation of cannabis cultivation and production in Australia, to enable a sustainable supply of safe medicinal cannabis products for therapeutic purpose.

A review of the operation of the Narcotics Drugs Act, as soon as possible after the second anniversary of the commencement of the 2016 amendments, is required under section 26A of that Act, with the report to be tabled in Parliament by 29 October 2019.

It is important that you register early to secure a place. There are limited seats available and registrations will close when capacity is reached.

Parties who wish to comment on the operation of the Narcotic Drugs Act, having regard to the Terms of Reference for the Review. These are available on each of the Office of Drug Control and Therapeutic Goods Administration websites, at these links:

• ODC website: Review of the Narcotic Drugs Act 1967
• TGA website: Review of the Narcotic Drugs Act 1967

Any questions relating to the events or consultation should be directed to the Review Secretariat by email to ReviewNarcoticDrugsAct@health.gov.au or by telephone to 1800 555 677.