THE new head of the Australian Lawyers Alliance says the country's policy on illicit drugs has failed and Australia should consider decriminalisation, even for drugs such as heroin and crystal methamphetamine.

Greg Barns, a criminal barrister and former chairman of the Australian Republic Movement, said Australian Crime Commission figures released this week showed "an abject failure of prohibition".

Mr Barns took over today as national president of the Australian Lawyers Alliance, which promotes individual rights in the criminal justice system. Advertisement: Story continues below

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