19 November 2025 | FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
To protest the Allan government’s failure to reform cannabis laws, Victoria’s two Legalise Cannabis MPs have worn ‘Labour’ T-shirts declaring It’s time … for cannabis reform at state parliament.
LCV MPs David Ettershank and Rachel Payne say the Allan government has abandoned cannabis law reform and is ignoring state Labor Party policy to legalise.
Mr Ettershank said that at the ALP Victorian party conference, members voted for the legalisation of cannabis as part of ALP health policy and called for immediate decriminalisation.
“Why is Jacinta Allan ignoring the wishes of ALP members and the ALP State Conference?” Mr Ettershank said.
“Premier Jacinta Allan is in overdrive trying to ‘best’ the Liberals on being tough on crime. However, she is still wasting the resources of police and the courts by prosecuting a victimless crime – personal cannabis consumption.
“What hypocrisy. Every year, on average, 4,000 Victorians are arrested on cannabis charges, the vast majority just for possessing or consuming small amounts.”
Ms Payne added, “The average cost of an arrest for police, the courts, and other agencies is around $2,000 per person. It’s a waste of taxpayers’ money. Why talk tough on crime and simultaneously divert police and courts away from dealing with assaults, domestic violence and thefts?”
Victoria’s cannabis laws will again be the focus of an Upper House debate today [November 19].
Labor lacks courage to reform
MP David Ettershank said Labor’s hallowed mantra ‘it’s time’ was on the LCV T-shirts.
“It is 50 years, one week and one day since Gough Whitlam was dismissed, and Labor no longer has the courage to introduce brave reforms such as decriminalisation. We are all the poorer for that,” he said.
“How sad that Jacinta Allan has forgotten Labor’s proud tradition of important social reforms.”
Premier ignores the advice of experts and a parliamentary committee
Mr Ettershank and Ms Payne said the Allan Government had also chosen to ignore the recommendation to decriminalise from a joint party parliamentary committee that included Labor MPs.
“This committee looked at Victoria’s cannabis laws last year, and in its report to the government, this committee supported decriminalising. That committee heard from pre-eminent health and law experts who also argued for decriminalising,” she said.
Just follow the ACT, which decriminalised five years ago
Mr Ettershank said the committee recommended Victoria follow the ACT, which has allowed people to grow a few pot plants and possess small amounts of cannabis since 2020.
“That’s been working well for five years. It’s a modest proposal,” he said. “Cannabis arrest rates plummeted in Canberra once it was decriminalised. There’s been no increase in cannabis-related ambulance attendances or hospital admissions, nor any increase in driving under the influence.”
Cannabis arrests hurt the most vulnerable in the community
Ms Payne said First Nations, LGBTQ+ and CALD community members, along with young people, are the most likely to get in trouble, and an arrest can impact a person’s future employment and housing opportunities.
“Marginalised people are the ones in prison for cannabis, including an enormous proportion of First Nations Victorians,” Ms Payne said.
“Aboriginal Victorians are eight times more likely to be arrested for cannabis possession. They’re also half as likely to get a diversion. They represent almost 10% of cannabis related arrests, but make up less than 1% of the Victorian population. And this, in the era of Treaty.
“The criminal cannabis market burdens police, clogs our courts and props up organised crime. That’s the real law and order issue here – not consuming cannabis.”
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