Canberra Liberals MLA Jeremy Hanson brought forward a motion calling on the ACT Government to repeal its decriminalisation of illicit drugs, which came into effect in October 2023.
Thomas voted against the motion, as he believes that the use of drugs should be treated as a health and social issue, rather than a criminal one. In his speech, he called for greater funding for community organisations that deliver outreach, for a needle and syringe program in the Alexander Maconochie Centre, and for increased opening hours for Canberra’s pill testing service CanTEST.
Thomas also highlighted that the ACT has had the legislative mechanism in place to establish a supervised injecting room since 1999, and called on the Government to deliver this service.
Mr Hanson’s motion was voted down by ACT Labor, the ACT Greens, independent MLA Fiona Carrick and Thomas.