Legislators have been urged to “listen more than you speak” as the long-awaited NSW Drug Summit kicks off. Led by former NSW Liberal leader John Brogden and former Labor deputy premier Carmel Tebbutt, the summit began in Griffith on Friday, Experts have been lobbying for drug reform for years, with pill testing tipped to be a hot topic after Victoria committed to a trial over the summer following the success of similar trials in ACT and Queensland. NSW Health Minister Ryan Park addressed the summit on Friday, revealing it “risky” for the government but an “important conversation”.
“This is a challenging conversation, and I want it to be challenging,” Mr Park said.“Summits like this always are risky to government, but I’ve said in the lead-up to this, both publicly and privately, this is something I’m looking forward to having a challenging discussion on. “I would be very concerned if everyone in this room agreed, but I’d also be concerned if people did not engage with this in a deeply meaningful way.
” He urged attendees to keep an open mind during the summit, which will head to Lismore on Monday before two sessions are held in Sydney later in the year. “I say to the legislators who are here today, please listen more than you speak,” he said. “Please come to this summit today with an open mind.
Be willing to challenge your own thoughts. Be willing to challenge your own assumptions. “By doing that, you may be opening yourself up to an improve.