Labor candidate admits to drug charge
Labor candidate Edwina Lloyd said being arrested on a drug charge was the best thing that ever happened to her.
Now a criminal lawyer, Lloyd hopes that with her previous experience she will be able to make some changes to the criminal justice system.
Being arrested gave her the chance to turn her life around.
"I know what it sounds like – a politician with a colourful past – I know I am going to lose some skin over it. But I want other people to have the opportunity I have had, to change and build a successful life," she said according to The Brisbane Times.
At the age of 30, Lloyd was in the wrong scene and her life was out of control. She was arrested for dealing cocaine, an amount worth $200-$300.
She decided to start rehab and entered a residential facility near Byron Bay, where she underwent a long-term program.
When she went back to court, where she pleaded guilty to the charge, she had changed so much so the magistrate gave her a second chance and did not record a conviction. Lloyd had stopped using alcohol and drugs and had instead enrolled in law degree.
After finishing her degree she was admitted to the bar where she disclosed her past.
She said she has received great support from colleagues and friends and is now using her life and professional skills to help others.
"This is my life's work, I want to reduce the stigma and put a human face to these sorts of problems. I want people to see that rehabilitation can and does work," she told The Sun-Herald.
"People can change, they just need to be given the opportunity and the right support," she continued.
Lloyd is advocating for better access to the drug court and programs for people with drug and mental health issues.
"As a modern-day solicitor it is our job to help people get back on the right path," she said.
