Human Rights safeguards seeded under Severe Substance Dependence Treatment Bill (Jan 2010)
The Severe Substance Dependence Treatment Bill 2009 (Vic), currently before Victorian Parliament, proposes to introduce short-term involuntary detention and treatment for persons with severe substance dependence in circumstances where it is necessary as a matter of urgency to save a person’s life or prevent serious damage to a person’s health. The Human Rights Law Resource Centre has made a Submission to the Scrutiny of Acts and Regulations Committee expressing concern that aspects of the Bill are incompatible with the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 (Vic).