Implementation of the Review of the Narcotic Drugs Act 1967 (Cth)

The Office of Drug Control (ODC) is currently implementing the 26 recommendations from the Report on the Review of the Narcotic Drugs Act 1967 (the Report) in a two stage process. Stage 1 has been to implement those recommendations that only require amending the Narcotic Drugs Regulation 2016 (the Regulation). The amended Regulations, which can be found on the Federal Register of Legislation: Narcotic Drugs Amendment (Review Recommendations) Regulations 2019, will come into effect on 1 January 2020.

Stage 2 has already commenced and will implement the remaining recommendations, many which require amendments to both the Narcotic Drugs Act 1967 (Cth) (the Act) and the Regulation.

It is through amendments to the Act, that the Single Licence Model and other associated reforms to the licence application process can be implemented. A consultation paper on the Single Licence Model has been published on the ODC website, and can be found at this link: Consultation: Single Licence Model.