June 20, 2016
The Federal Government will provide $5.47 million to the Darling Downs and West Moreton Primary Health Network to help tackle ice addiction in the local community.
LNP candidate for Maranoa David Littleproud and Federal Health Minister Fiona Nash, jointly announced the funding in Stanthorpe on Monday, which will allow DDWM PHN to develop a range of services to tackle the ice epidemic.
“Ice is playing havoc in many regional communities, including ours,” Mr Littleproud said.
“The government’s response to the Ice Taskforce will allow our community to tackle ice use head on.
“I have always advocated that local problems need local solutions and this huge injection of funds to the Darling Downs and West Moreton Primary Health Network will allow it to roll out local programs that are specifically designed to combat the spread of ice in our community.”
Mr Littleproud said the PHN would be funded to develop drug treatment services and help reduce demand for the drug.
Ms Nash said although delivery of such services had traditionally been the responsibility of State governments, the Federal Government had recognised the ice issue was urgent, and had acted.
“David Littleproud has lobbied me endlessly on this issue, and I’m pleased we are able to deliver this funding,” she said.
“The scourge of ice often hits regional communities hardest.
“I have visited countless regional towns and spoken with hundreds of families grappling with the impact of this terrible drug.
“Local police, health workers and the National Ice Taskforce have all said we simply cannot arrest our way out of this problem. To break the drug dealer’s business model, we have to smash demand for their terrible product.
“That’s what we’re doing by delivering funding via 31 local Primary Health Networks, we are helping people get off ice and reducing demand for this horrible drug.”
Mr Littleproud said the local PHN had conducted a local needs assessment to determine where there were gaps in services and would start using the money from July 1 to provide various rehabilitation services.
“This is an all-of-government approach. We must help users get off this drug while we crack down on dealers,” Mr Littleproud said.
“This approach was recommended by the Federal Government’s National Ice Taskforce led by the former Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police Mr Ken Lay APM.
“The government asked the Taskforce to provide advice on the development of a National Ice Action Strategy.”
