Why Curiosity is the Best Medicine for Our State

The courage to ask why

In my years as a GP, I never saw a patient cured by red tape. I recall a busy day in my clinic in Germany, where I sat with a stack of files and felt the heavy weight of frustration. I could offer diagnoses, but I could not provide a cause. Why this patient? Why this ailment? The answers were elusive. Science is not a static book of rules, yet we often treat it as such. It is a living, breathing process of constant questioning.

National Science Week reminds us that it is perfectly okay to ask questions. In fact, it is the only way to progress. When we stop questioning, we enter a state of decline. Whether we are discussing the foundations of quantum theory or the origins of chronic disease, the goal is always the same: to find the truth, even when that truth challenges our comfortable status quo.

The danger of silent acceptance

There is a visceral risk in blindly accepting the status quo. I think back to the early days of medical history, where things we now know to be harmful were once standard practice. The history of science is littered with moments where the consensus was wrong. This isn't just bureaucracy; it is a waiting room where patients can suffer if we stop testing, retesting, and demanding evidence.

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Building bridges between policy and evidence

Science is not just about lab coats and beakers. It is the infrastructure that underpins our modern life. From the energy that powers this Parliament to the medicines that keep us standing, everything we rely on is the result of someone asking a question and refusing to settle for an incomplete answer. We need to build more bridges between the scientific community and the halls of power. When we ignore the voices of those who dare to challenge the consensus, we risk repeating the mistakes of the past.

We must champion a culture where curiosity is rewarded and where evidence-based decision-making is the gold standard for our future. You can read more about the recent motion on National Science Week to see how we are working to ensure that transparency and research remain at the forefront of our political discourse. If you believe, like I do, that our state deserves a future built on logic, compassion, and scientific rigour, I invite you to join Legalise Cannabis WA today.