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

Premier reiterates opposition to the bare minimum' recommendation of scathing inquiry into the state's drug laws, nearly three years after it reported

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.