Local Drug Action Team applications now open
The second round of applications are now open for local organisations to join the Liberal National Government’s Local Drug Action Team program.Community groups across the country are joining forces to deliver targeted local action to help tackle drug use and addiction.We need to work together to fight the scourge of ice and other drugs which cause so much harm to individuals, families and our communities.The program is an initiative under the Liberal National Government’s four year, $298 million investment to reduce the harms of ice, drugs and alcohol.
$11.6 million for drug rehab facilities in the north
Mackay, Townsville and North Queensland will receive $11.6 million for local drug and alcohol rehabilitation services as part of the Government’s plan to combat the scourge of ice in communities across the country.The funding will help to reduce demand for ice and reduce addict-based crime by supporting local rehabilitation services to help get addicts off ice and out of the drug market.The clear feedback from families dealing with ice addiction is that more rehabilitation facilities are needed.At the two Ice Forums conducted in my electorate last year, family members were certainly crying out for more treatment and rehab facilities and today’s announcement of $11.6 million for such services is welcome news.
Dob in a Dealer launch – Australia’s fight against ice
I welcome the launch of a new million dollar partnership between the Coalition Government and Crime Stoppers Australia to establish a national Dob in a Dealer campaign.The Commonwealth Government is providing $1 million to fund the national Dob in a Dealer campaign to raise awareness of methamphetamine, or ice, and encourage local communities to contact Crime Stoppers to help tackle the issue of manufacturing and distribution in their local area.Crimes relating to ice continue to be a concern for local police in Mackay, with strong links between those who commit drug offences and those committing other violent crimes.Drugs such as ice can have devastating consequences for entire communities, and putting a stop to it will require a whole of community response. Police can’t do it alone.
Dob in Ice Dealer launched
I welcome today’s launch of a new million dollar partnership between the Coalition Government and Crime Stoppers Australia to establish a national Dob in a Dealer campaign.The Commonwealth Government is providing $1 million to fund the national Dob in a Dealer campaign to raise awareness of methamphetamine, or ice, and encourage local communities to contact Crime Stoppers to help tackle the issue of manufacturing and distribution in their local area.Crimes relating to ice continue to be a concern for this region, with strong links between those who commit drug offences and those committing other violent crimes.Drugs such as ice can have devastating consequences for entire communities, and putting a stop to it will require a whole of community response. Police can’t do it alone.
Next step in ice fight
AN interim report from the National Ice Taskforce which has been presented to the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) by the Prime Minister has identified six key areas which need attention in the fight against the drug scourge.These are welcome findings, and they are largely those which were raised at the two Ice Forums I conducted in Mackay and Bowen last month.The difficulties faced by family members battling to help someone who has fallen prey to the addiction, and the ease of access to a drug which has such devastating effects. were two things which stood out for me.
Community input on Ice handed to Taskforce
THE valuable feedback gathered during two Ice Forums held in Mackay and Bowen this month has been officially handed over to the head of the Abbott Government’s Ice Taskforce.I met with Taskforce chairman Ken Lay, the former Victorian Police Chief Commissioner, in Canberra last week to present the findings from two very productive and frank discussion forums to gather information about the extent of the ice problem in our region.
Survey shows extent of Ice use among young
INITIAL responses to an Ice Forum being held in Mackay indicate that use of the drug is widespread among young people, and it’s easily available.The youth organisation YIRS have conducted an anonymous survey among the young people they work with and the results were quite staggering.14 out of the 15 young people who participated in the survey were either using or had tried Ice.They also pointed out it was ‘easy to buy on social media’.