Senator COONAN —My question is to Senator Ellison, representing the Minister for Education, Training and Youth Affairs. The Howard government has committed to a three-pronged attack against drugs through law enforcement, health and education. A significant part of the $290 million Tough on Drugs initiative is to ensure that schoolchildren receive education about the damaging impact of drugs. Will the minister outline to the Senate the government's National School Drug Education Strategy and the benefit it will have for schoolchildren across Australia?

Senator ELLISON (Special Minister of State) —I thank Senator Coonan for that very important question.

Senator McKiernan —Gallery! Gallery!

Senator ELLISON —I am sure the opposition would be interested in the answer to this question, which perhaps is one of the most serious issues facing young people in Australia today. The young people of Australia are, after all, our most precious resource. The coalition government has shown a real commitment to addressing the question of illicit drug usage in this country. In the recent election campaign, the coalition committed a further $10 million for the National School Drug Education Strategy over the next four years, bringing the total expenditure in this area to $17.5 million. This school drug education component is part of the Prime Minister's national illicit drug strategy entitled Tough on Drugs. The total expenditure involved is some $290 million and it covers areas such as law enforcement, health and, importantly, education.

As the former minister for schools, I had the pleasure of being involved in setting up the National Advisory Committee on Drug Education chaired by Ms Karen Hart, President of the Australian Secondary Principals Association, and consisting of representatives appointed for their expertise from education authorities, health and law enforcement agencies, principals, teachers, parents and other community organisations. The committee provides expert advice and direction to the Minister for Education, Training and Youth Affairs on the development and implementation of this strategy.

This committee will also monitor, review and evaluate the progress of the strategy, particularly in light of emerging issues relating to drugs and associated drug education. That will be done both nationally and internationally. I am pleased to advise the Senate that the National Advisory Committee on Drug Education has completed a draft strategy and that has been released for comment by my colleague Trish Worth, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education, Training and Youth Affairs. It has been released for wide consultation, and submissions are invited. Those submissions will close on 12 February next year. I urge everyone here to participate in that process.

The goal of the draft strategy is to achieve no illicit drugs in schools. This goal has been endorsed by all states and territories. The strategy aims for world's best practice and reflects the best possible advice from health, education and law enforcement experts in the field. The National School Drug Education Strategy is about more than just teaching our young children to say no to drugs; it is about teaching young people to know and understand why saying no is much better and healthier for them than saying yes.

Key organisations and interested parties included in wide consultation have been the state and territory governments, the National Catholic Education Commission, the Australian Council of State School Organisations, the National Council of Independent Schools, the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, the Australian Parents Council and the Australian Federal Police. The government recognises that community support for schools is going to be vital to the success of this school drug strategy. The government is therefore inviting parents, teachers, key experts and community groups to submit suggestions and make contributions to the consultations on this draft strategy. As I say, submissions close on 12 February next year. The National School Drug Education Strategy and feedback sheet are available on the DETYA web site, and I invite everyone to participate in what is a most important process.