Former Queensland Premier Campbell Newman, a gutsy Duntroon graduate, braved threats against himself and family to bring in the Vicious Lawless Association Disestablishment Act 2013 (VLAD). VLAD was enacted to 'severely punish members of criminal organisations that commit serious offences'. That it did well, gathering heaps of intel, discouraging gang membership and resulting in OMG members fleeing the Sunshine State.

Labor and Greens made it their mission to geld the VLAD and to deep six it ASAP, all against the wishes of police, businesses and the public. That they did and the OMGs were quick to assume implied continuing support from Labor and Greens and don't tire of telling Labor Premier Palaszczuk that she owes them for government.

Immediately Palaszczuk was able to elbow her way to government, the gangs grew in Queensland and new gangs from around the world came to get some of the action.

http://e2nz.org/2016/02/24/the-vlads-new-zealands-tough-backstreet-gangs-gain-a-foothold-in-australia-as-families-intimidated/

Recently, on the NSW/Qld border, a common incident,
http://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/news/crime-court/bikie-shot-killed-as-gang-war-escalates-on-tweed/news-story/09b83b7b23bb49d7a5227bde3d7d22d6?nk=75668604d13b637b1516d33318f4179b-1503978621

Aiden: the best solution is to enable the legal supply of drugs so that nobody has to resort to the illegal system.

If they overdose they are on their own, any medical intervention from the Emergency Services, Police or Hospital has to be paid for by the Drugee, not the Medical Benefits or Government.

JBowyer: There are few Mr Bigs or big gangs.

The Mr Bigs are "very" high up in the Legal Profession & can't be touched.

Hi there CHRISGAFF1000...

A noble exercise to be sure. One that might just work. But, It was your last paragraph that best explained the reasoning behind the 'But'? Political will, support from the rich and powerful? Even strong support from the leaders of organised Religion - The Catholic Church, Anglican Church, maybe, even the heads of the Muslim faith? Anyone with 'any' political clout.

I'm in the process of reading a second book by Don WINSLOW titled 'The Cartel' and it's predecessor, 'The Power of the Dog' both deal with Washington's interdiction of Cocaine and other major drug importation from Mexico, into the United States, and tell of this DEA Agent's many attempts to interrupt it. If one ever needed a lesson of true corruption, both sides of the US/Mexican border, one would only need to read the first 100 or so pp's of either book, to understand just how high corruption goes, either side of the veritable Rio Grande.

The first strata of your plan '... political will...' is where the whole idea will unassailably tumble down? And you Chris, more so than I, would undoubtably know why?

A brilliant 'IDEA' from an honest man. Who regrettably, will witness that 'IDEA' being scuttled by a group of dishonourable, corrupt and treacherous men and women. Many of whom will hold, and have held, high political appointments, of which they're all sworn, to faithfully uphold!

Sorry Chris, you know as well as I do, the corruption that lies quietly right at the very top!

o sung wu,
I am amazed at the number of contributors to this forum that actively appear to support the drug hierarchy.
By denying proactive frontal attacks on these under-miners of social cohesion and suggesting legal drug
supermarkets as an alternate is both idiotic and minority pandering.
Drug testing for the dole is a great step forward but the fact that positive tests will not result in police
involvement is ridiculous.
If I get caught with drugs in my system when am am driving it is an offense against the laws of the land
so why not an offense when gaining public largess.
Do we live in such a dream world that we believe people who use their dole to buy drugs actually have
enough cash to support their habits.
Crap!
They need more and that comes mainly from criminal activities.
Sorry but I believe direct action is far better that soft pussy footing around the problem.

ChrisGaff Firstly you have had years and years of proactive policing without even slowing down the problem. Look at the total balls up of the US Prohibition law. That financed crime and gave boundless corruption.
It just does not work! We might as well try something new as keep making the problem worse.
Personally I think if we can ensure druggies do not breed and we give them drugs then the problem will die out.
Oh one thing, no more rehabilitation BS, just let them slide into oblivion.

//If I get caught with drugs in my system when am am driving it is an offense against the laws of the land
so why not an offense when gaining public largess.//

Will be testing everybody else living off the taxpayer, or just the work-shy dole bludging scum? I saw a report the other day that said cocaine use is on the rise, particularly in Canberra.

Coke is a rich man's drug. I doubt there's many on the dole that could afford it. Now politicians on the other hand...

Although I don't think they should test Malcolm Roberts, the Senator for the Village of the Damned. I don't think their instruments would be able to take the strain.