How Australia changed course on drug policy, and the forgotten boat people of East Timor

How Australia changed course on drug policy, and the forgotten boat people of East Timor

From Late Night Live — Full program podcast by ABC Australia

June 4, 2026 · 54 min

About this episode

The episode discusses Australia's evolving drug policy and the historical context of East Timorese asylum seekers.

Teenage vaping, pill testing, injecting rooms, medicinal cannabis and the opioid crisis: a look at Australia's efforts to manage illicit drug use. And the little boat of East Timorese asylum seekers that strained Australia's relationship with Indonesia. Guests Professor Des Manderson., Director of the Centre for Law, Arts and Humanities at the ANU. Author of 'High time: how Australia changed its mind about illegal drug use' (Black Inc Books) Associate Professor Vannessa Hearman, historian, Curtin University. Author of ‘The Good Sea: the journey of Tasi Diak and the Politics of Refugee Protection in Australia’ (MUP) Jose da Costa, Timorese-Australian writer, film director, actor, who was onboard the Tasi Diak

People in this episode

Guests: Professor Des Manderson, Associate Professor Vannessa Hearman, Jose da Costa

Topics covered

  • drug policy
  • asylum seekers
  • Australia
  • East Timor
  • illicit drug use
  • politics
  • history

Keywords

  • drug policy
  • East Timor
  • asylum seekers
  • Australia
  • illicit drugs
  • opioid crisis
  • teenage vaping
  • pill testing
  • injecting rooms
  • medicinal cannabis

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Centre for Law, Arts and Humanities, ANU, Curtin University

Books & works: High time: how Australia changed its mind about illegal drug use, The Good Sea: the journey of Tasi Diak and the Politics of Refugee Protection in Australia

Places: East Timor, Australia, Indonesia

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