Deputy broke protocol

Firstly, Deputy Oliver’s views on recreational cannabis have nothing whatsoever to do with the committee deciding to invoke Rule 37 (8). For the entire four-year term, I have spoken out about my belief that medicinal cannabis should be available to all, and that I also believe the recreational use of cannabis should not be a criminal offence. Ms Down is right when she says that ‘you need a balance of opinions on all States committees’, and on Home Affairs we have just that. Not once when I have spoken out in the States about cannabis has the president, or any other member, criticised me or advised me that I shouldn’t air my views on the matter – I wouldn’t have listened anyway because drug policy reform featured in my manifesto and my feelings are as strong now as they were before I was elected.

In 2018, Home Affairs initiated an inspection of Bailiwick Law Enforcement, which also examined the relationship between the political and operational bodies. In that report, the committee was heavily criticised for its perceived involvement in operational matters, and recommendation six of the report stated:

Governance – by 31 January 2019, the Committee for Home Affairs, in consultation with the head of Law Enforcement, should design, publish, and subsequently operate in accordance with a document that clarifies each party’s responsibilities for (as a minimum):

. objective and priority setting;

. strategic governance and oversight;

. operational direction and control;

. independence; and

. provision of performance information for governance purposes.

Home Affairs was also subject to a critical governance review by Professor Catherine Staite, which again highlighted the importance of the operational independence of BLE. The committee worked with the head of Law Enforcement and a protocol was drawn up clearly defining the roles of both parties, and the need for the political body to take great care in not getting involved with operational matters, and dealing with complaints in the appropriate manner.

Deputy Oliver’s comments on social media broke the terms of that protocol. She also refused to retract her statement or make a public apology – in fact, during the meeting, when we discussed the matter at length, she flatly refused to apologise for the attack on me at all. It was the absence of any meaningful apology or attempt to assume responsibility for her actions that has led us to ask the States for her to be removed from the committee – absolutely nothing to do with her views on cannabis.

How could I continue to trust a colleague, who I also considered a friend, when they publicly attack my credibility and refuse to apologise and retract the vitriolic comments they made? We have worked together for four years – for more than a year I have been vice-president and not once has she intimated that she had a problem with that.

Ms Down also refers to the upcoming debate on justice policy which, in my opinion, is the most important piece of work Home Affairs has undertaken this term. This is the arena for members to share their opinions on all areas of justice, including potential drug policy reform, and I sincerely hope that Deputy Oliver will share the views on cannabis decriminalisation she expressed on Facebook with her colleagues in the States during this debate, in an appropriate manner.

Frankly, she has had four years to speak of her apparent strong views on this matter in the States, but she has said, and done, nothing to initiate any reform – regardless of what she may claim on social media.

So in summary, Deputy Oliver is not the subject of a witch hunt in order for the committee to replace her with a ‘yes’ man. She has contravened the terms of the protocol signed between the head of Law Enforcement and Home Affairs and refused to publicly apologise (until after the committee decided to invoke Rule 37 (8)). She attacked me on social media in a wildly misleading post, and any notion that the committee are trying to get rid of her for her apparent views on cannabis law reform is completely misguided.

DEPUTY MARC LEADBEATER

Vice president, Committee for Home Affairs.