LIBERAL candidate for Bendigo Megan Purcell says she will establish an “ice taskforce” within 60 days should she be elected, bringing together businesses, police, schools and other local leaders.
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She released her two-page Ice Action Plan during a visit from Health Minister Sussan Ley on Friday, when the Coalition re-affirmed its commitment to spend $300 million over four years to tackle ice use in Australia.
The plan includes $241.5 million to 31 primary health networks across the country. Locally, Ms Purcell will send out “ice information packs” to families of children aged 16 to 25.
The fund will also support extra policing efforts, including Dob in a Dealer.
Ms Purcell said the plan would bring together people across Bendigo.
“By launching an ice plan for central Victoria, I am setting out a road map for how I will work with the community as their local MP to curb the use and harm of this drug in our community,” she said.
The funding was first announced in December.
Speaking at the new Bendigo Hospital site, Ms Ley said a large proportion of the funding would go towards rehabilitation.
“Because ultimately it’s a cycle and the hard-working staff at this hospital have to deal with a lot,” she said.
“The primary health network approach is all about local communities saying what they need, not about a one-size-fits-all package from Canberra.”
Addressing ice use in the community is a priority for Bendigo Health, with emergency department director Diana Badcock saying the whole community would benefit from real solutions to ice use.
The Liberal’s plan also includes $13 million to increase availability of treatment, and $18.9 million for research into drugs of addiction.
Labor Member for Bendigo Lisa Chesters said she welcomed any funding to help address ice, but was concerned about the current state of “fragmented” services in Bendigo.
She said health services had only been guaranteed funding for one year, rather than four years.
“Over three Budgets, nearly $1 billion has been cut from the Health Flexible Funds. This includes support for alcohol and illicit drug rehabilitation and treatment as well as prevention strategies,” she said.
“On top of that, the Coalition’s mismanagement of federal NGO treatment grants has led to a funding crisis in the sector.
“Bendigo Community Health Services relies on the Non-government Organisation Treatment Grants Program and like everyone they have only been offered a temporary, one-year funding extension which makes their job very difficult.”
