The Australian (illicit) drug policy timeline provides a list of key events, policy and legislative changes that have occurred in Australia between 1985 and December 2019, with biannual updates.

Events are listed by jurisdiction, at the federal and state/territory level. The first table includes events at the federal level. Events in the state and territories are split into two parts. The second table includes events from the Australian Capital Territory, Queensland, New South Wales and the Northern Territory. Events from South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia are listed in the third table. 

Please feel free to email through any comments or suggested inclusions to caitlin.hughes@flinders.edu.au.

We will continue to update the timeline on a biannual basis. We would like to thank the government and non-government stakeholders who provide assistance in this process.

Download the drug policy timeline