
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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