Kathy Newnam, Darwin
On July 26, the Northern Territory Supreme Court will hear a case against Margot Laughton, who has been charged under the NT's repressive "drug house" laws.
Under the laws, introduced by the NT's Labor government in 2002, a premises can be declared a "drug house" if police find drugs there on more than three occasions. Once declared a drug house, a fluorescent green sign is erected outside the house and police can legally search the premises at any time without a warrant. Police can also conduct cavity searches of residents of a drug house and search anyone within 200 metres of the building.
No conviction is needed to declare a premises a drug house.
Laughton, a 56-year-old grandmother, was the first victim of the laws. After her housing commission flat was declared a drug house in January 2003, Laughton was evicted and became homeless for several weeks. Laughton later served four months of a two-year sentence before she successfully appealed against the sentence.
Less than one month after her successful appeal, Laughton was again targeted by the NT drug squad. An undercover operation resulted in her being charged for possession of cannabis and "unlawful supply of cannabis to another". The latter charge was based upon evidence tendered by an undercover police officer who convinced Laughton that he needed the marijuana for "a dying friend".
A campaign of civil disobedience and direct action against the laws is being led by the Network Against Prohibition. NAP held its 18th "smoke-in for human rights" on July 18 to highlight Margot Laughton's case and the use of the drug house laws to target poor and disadvantaged sections of the community.
Five NAP activists are facing jail terms for their part in a May 2002 peaceful demonstration against the drug laws. Activists "invaded" the floor of the NT parliamentary chamber on the day the drug house laws were introduced. The appeal against these convictions is going to the NT Supreme Court on August 30-31.
For more information, contact the Network Against Prohibition, <napnt@bigpond.net.au>.
From Green Left Weekly, July 21, 2004.
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