Health Minister Mark Butler is facing renewed criticism over his refusal to support a national medicinal cannabis compassionate access scheme, with opponents accusing the Labor minister of abandoning commitments he made while in opposition.
Warren Entsch, the Liberal chair of the cross-party Parliamentary Friends of Medicinal Cannabis Group, called the government's decision not to provide seed funding "frustrating and disappointing."
Lucy Haslam, chair of the Australian Medicinal Cannabis Association (AMCA), which launched the Compass initiative, also released a statement alleging that Butler had reversed his earlier expressions of support for the program.
AMCA first approached Butler in November seeking government assistance to subsidise patients who cannot afford their cannabis medication.
Although Butler acknowledged that the cost of cannabis "continues to be a significant access barrier for many patients," the request for seed funding was turned down.
As previously reported, the minister stated that the Department of Health and Aged Care "is not able to fund such programs at this time."
Entsch pointed out that Butler had previously backed a recommendation from the 2020 medicinal cannabis senate inquiry — made while Labor was still in opposition — to establish a compassionate access scheme.
"Minister Butler said in 2021 that he fully supported [the recommendation]. It seems this may just have been lip service on the part of the minister who is now in government and in a position to make this happen," the veteran MP said. "Instead he has rejected the proposal.
"As someone who has always supported medicinal cannabis it is frustrating and disappointing. A very inexpensive option for the government has the potential to help many patients. This is a great initiative by industry for a cause that should be above politics."
Haslam said the government had turned away from a chance to help some of the most vulnerable people in the community.
"I am disappointed and surprised by the minister's response in refusing seed funding for a program that would help the most vulnerable… including patients who are dying and children with intractable epilepsy," she said.
"It was an opportunity for the government to do something meaningful, with minimal effort and funding. Minister Butler supported this recommendation of the senate inquiry… but now he is in a position to actually do something, he has done an about face.
"I have communicated the minister's decision to the Parliamentary Friends of Medicinal Cannabis Group and together we will continue advocating for improved access with the government."
In his letter to AMCA, Butler acknowledged the high cost of medicinal cannabis and repeated earlier advice urging companies to register their products on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG).
