Dope conviction in Darwin

By Rob Wesley-Smith

DARWIN -- In a court here on October 17 Magistrate McGregor imposed a 12-month good behaviour bond on a man convicted of possessing about a kilo of dope.

The “offence” was committee in Darwin but the dope was for use at Maningrida on the central north coast of Arnhem Land, where Jack Phillips mostly lives.

The small court was filled with his family including members of the famous Sunrise Band.

Jack claimed in his defence that dope was brought to Arnhem Land by the Macassans centuries ago, and has been used secretly by the elders ever since.

As the elders has asked him to bring them some, and in keeping with Mabo and self-determination, Jack felt he was not committing an unlawful act. The dope was an alternative to grog which is a much harder drug and is killing the culture in many cases.

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