Peter Baume
Peter Erne Baume AC is a retired Australian doctor and politician. He was a Senator for New South Wales from 1974 to 1991, representing the Liberal Party. He served as Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Minister for Education in the Fraser Government.
Peter's recent articles
31 October 2024
Our drug laws don’t work. Why not change them?
If the upcoming drug summit is anything like its predecessor in 1999 then some invited people will present research results and facts which most policy makers ignore now. It will suggest ways in which laws might be altered beneficially. It might suggest changes to make our approach to drug use more humane and more effective than it is now. It might also improve public understanding of the realities in this area, not well appreciated at present. Policy change is more possible after a drug summit than before it. And, if policy change did occur, then that would be an improvement,...
8 November 2021
'War on drugs' policies never have and never will work
It's time to listen to the experts in making drugs policy rather than stick with a foolish prohibition strategy.
7 February 2021
Australian aged care is a crisis waiting to happen
Providers know they are in the box seat and that they can, and do, operate sub-standard homes. Bad homes cannot be closed - imagine the furore if older people were suddenly evicted from a home that does not measure up.
31 August 2020
It was a mistake to privatise aged care
We are trying to care for our elderly on the cheap. What an indictment that we seem willing to spend more on defence than we do on the elderly.