Learning to live responsibly with illicit drugs will be discussed by barrister and author Mr Nicholas Cowdery, AM, QC at Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) 2012 William Merrylees Memorial Lecture in Wagga Wagga on Wednesday 24 October.

 

Mr Cowdery, the NSW Director of Public Prosecutions from 1994 to 2011, will address the topic, Learning to Live with Drugs: responsible options now that the ‘war’ has been lost from 6pm in the Council Meeting Room, Civic Centre in Baylis Street, Wagga Wagga.

 

Hosted by the Head of CSU in Wagga Wagga, Mr Adrian Lindner, the Memorial Lecture series is held to honour the work of philosopher and Riverina grazier, Mr William Merrylees, who in 1952 formed the Riverine University League to lobby for a university in rural Australia.

 

While certain drugs have been prohibited in Australia for nearly a century and despite international agreements intended to reduce drug use, Mr Cowdery argues the war on drugs has been lost.

 

“Economics is against the prohibitionists,” he said. “While there is a demand, and there always has been for mood altering drugs, a supply will be provided and a profit made.

 

“If there are risks associated with marketing, the price will be increased and the profit even larger for the many criminals who succeed.

 

“High prices lead to secondary crime and underground consumption creates risks to health and life.

 

“A way must be found to reduce the additional harms created by prohibition itself so that we can focus on the health and social consequences of drug use,” Mr Cowdery said.

 

Mr Cowdery is a Queen’s Counsel and was appointed the most senior prosecutor in NSW in 1994. He was President of the International Association for Prosecutors from 1999 to 2005 and founding co-Chairman of the Human Rights Institute of the International Bar Association from 1995 to 2000.

 

An Adjunct Professor at CSU, Mr Cowdery is also the author of Getting Justice Wrong: myths, media and crime.

 

Mr Cowdery will answer questions from the audience after his presentation. The 2012 William Merrylees Memorial Lecture is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served after the lecture.