A federal government MP, known for his conservative views, wants a rethink on how the justice system treats illicit drug users.
Liberal MP Craig Kelly says Portugal has had "remarkable results" since it changed from treating minor drug use as a criminal issue to a health issue in 2001.
The chair of joint parliamentary committee on law enforcement has recently returned from the harm minimisation haven on a taxpayer-funded study tour.
"We're not talking about decriminalisation or making drugs legal, but looking at how to put more resources into rehabilitation," Mr Kelly told ABC on Saturday.
"If we were able to have the same rate of drug deaths as Portugal (three deaths per million people), we are talking about saving 1700 lives a year in Australia."
Police in Portugal still prosecute drug traffickers and confiscate any quantity of drugs from users.
But people found in possession of less than 10 days' worth of personal supply are sent to a "dissuasion" commission
A panel consisting of a lawyer, a medical professional and a social worker can then decide on treatment, restrictions and even whether the user should be handed a financial penalty.
The approach was described as "a model of best practices" in 2015 by the then-head of the United Nations International Narcotics Control Board, who also noted the policy may not work for all countries.
"What is unique in Portugal is the creation of a specific institution outside the criminal justice system ... which provides support for users," then president Werner Sipp said at the time.
Mr Kelly, who has previously labelled female colleagues' breastfeeding in the chamber as "a bit over-the-top", hails from the conservative wing of the Turnbull government.
He said he hopes his committee will make some recommendations and that the "controversial subject" will be addressed in a bipartisan manner.
Labor MP Pat Conroy says he firmly believes "the war on drugs has been lost" and wants addiction treated more as a health issue.
The Greens already support a move to the Portuguese model, with leader Richard Di Natale in 2015 calling for change.
Labor premier Mark McGowan earlier this year ruled out decriminalising any drug offences in his state of Western Australia after the local branch of the Australian Medical Association pushed for debate on the issue.
