Sir Richard Branson has added his voice to calls for the New South Wales government to enact serious drug reform and announce a timeframe for its promised drug summit, pleading with the state to decriminalise drugs.
In a video released to Guardian Australia, the British billionaire also said the government needed to “put people’s health first”, while congratulating the Australian Capital Territory for pushing ahead with reforms.
The ACT has passed laws allowing people to possess small amounts of drugs including cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine for personal use.
Branson’s plea is part of the Fair Treatment campaign started by the Uniting church in 2018, which has since grown to include more than 70 organisations calling for drug policy and treatment reform.
Branson was part of the campaign’s launch five years ago in Sydney and is renewing his call, sending congratulations to “all those who have championed” changes since.
“Your work is so important, but more needs to be done,” he said. “I can’t wait to hear when NSW has held its long-promised drug summit and listened to the evidence about sensible, compassionate and effective drug laws.
“It’s time to decriminalise now and put people’s health first. For God’s sake, do something about it.”
The government went to the election promising to hold a drug summit at which reforms would be discussed, but the premier, Chris Minns, has repeatedly refused to outline a timeframe other than saying it will happen in 2024.
Branson’s plea comes after the government announced that people who are caught with small quantities of illicit drugs for personal use could be issued with fines that they can work off by seeking help as part of a drug law overhaul.
The proposal was a fall-back recommendation of the ice inquiry, led by Dan Howard, that called for the complete decriminalisation of drug possession in NSW.
While the announcement was welcomed by many, it has not stopped pressure building on the government, with a coalition of peak health bodies last week warning that further lives could be lost if a drug testing trial was not introduced for the summer festival season.
The group, including members of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, the nursing union and the Health Services Union, made its case after the deaths of two young revellers at a music festival just over a month ago.
Branson has long spoken out about drug reforms. In his new push, he recalled the “energy in the room, the buzz and the excitement” when the Australian campaign was launched five years ago.
He said what had followed had been “incredible”, noting a number of reforms in the ACT and funding for treatment services in NSW.
The Uniting NSW and ACT manager of advocacy, Emma Maiden, welcomed Branson’s input to bring attention to the issues facing people living with drug dependency.
“We know that the system still grossly impacts the vulnerable, and further changes must be explored and adopted,” she said.
“Drug use and dependency is a health issue and should be treated as such.”
