Legalise Cannabis WA MP Dr Brian Walker has predicted the party could hold the balance of power in the Upper House after next month’s state election.
LCWA is fielding the largest contingent of candidates in the party’s history, with eight running for election to the Legislative Council (Upper House) and 34 for the Legislative Assembly.
Dr Walker said: “We have ex-military, serving nurses, and small business owners, to name a few, contesting on behalf of the Legalise Cannabis WA Party. Polling suggests we will win somewhere between two and four Council seats, potentially giving us the balance of power.”
Despite previously alleging he was being shut out by the mainstream media, Dr Walker said he was confident the people of WA will see the benefits of supporting the Legalise Cannabis Party to bring an end to the failed war on drugs.
“Legalising cannabis will inject over A$1.25 billion into the WA economy over four years. Apart from the savings in law enforcement and court costs, this measure will deal a blow to the criminals who have profited from the illegal market,” he added.
Epsilon Healthcare
Epsilon Healthcare has announced that the Deed of Company Arrangement (DOCA) for wholly owned subsidiary Epsilon Clinics, executed in June 2024, was effectuated last week (February 19, 2025).
Participating creditors’ claims have been extinguished under the DOCA, which the company is no longer subject to.
The move caps a dramatic period for the firm during which it went in and out of voluntary administration amid a battle for boardroom control.
Vitura Health
Vitura has completed the acquisition of Livelihood Health, the parent of Candor Medical, for A$5.9 million following a deal announced earlier this month and funded through a private share placement to prominent Australian businessman Charlie Shahin.
Candor, a Queensland-based telehealth platform with around 15,000 patients on its books and generating $30m in annual prescriptions, was founded by Joel and Dr Lisa Beckett in 2022.
The pair will take on the roles of general manager specialty clinics and chief medical officer specialty clinics respectively.
Vitura chair Robert Iervasi said: “Vitura is very pleased to have completed the Candor acquisition and to welcome both Joel and Lisa Beckett into the Vitura family.
“We look forward to working closely with the whole Candor team to drive further growth and value for our shareholders and to continue our delivery of best-in-class service for our growing patient base.”
NZ industrial hemp regulations
New Zealand’s minister for regulation David Seymour has announced a review of the country’s “outdated and burdensome” industrial hemp rules in a bid to kickstart a sector which could be worth NZ$2 billion in the next five years.
Industrial hemp is currently a Class C controlled drug under NZ’s Misuse Of Drugs Act. It cannot be supplied for therapeutic use and only low-THC cannabis varieties approved by the director-general of health can be cultivated.
Seymour said: “A report from the ministry of business, innovation and employment projects the sector could be worth $2 billion by 2030 – if we get the rules right.
“Through our review of agricultural and horticultural product regulations and feedback from the red tape tip line, we’ve heard loud and clear that change is needed. Now, we’re getting on with the job.”
Seymour said he will table reform options to cabinet later this year.
