People caught with drugs in NSW may not face court, but government resists decriminalisation

The NSW premier, Dominic Perrottet, has ruled out decriminalising drug possession in NSW, as rescommended by the Howard inquiry, saying ‘this is the balance we have to get right’. Photograph: Steven Saphore/AAP

The New South Wales government has categorically ruled out decriminalisation in its long-awaited response to a landmark inquiry into drug laws in the state, but will expand pre-court diversion for people caught with illicit substances.

On Wednesday the government finally released its response to the recommendations from Prof Dan Howard’s scathing inquiry, announcing a $500m investment in health and justice reforms.