Bendigo will share in $4.84 million for local drug and alcohol rehabilitation services as part of the Turnbull Coalition Government’s plan to combat the scourge of ice, or crystal methamphetamine.
The funding, which will be directed to the Murray Primary Health Network, will seek to help reduce demand for ice and reduce addict-based crime by supporting local rehabilitation services to help get addicts off ice.
Liberal candidate for Bendigo Megan Purcell, welcomed the new funding, which will be used to help combat the devastating impact of ice.
“Ice is ruining lives, destroying communities and does not discriminate,” Ms Purcell said. “This money will provide much needed services to people in Bendigo who are grappling with ice addiction.
“Families in Bendigo are dealing with the fallout of this drug and many are concerned about a lack of available treatment and rehab services.”
The Murray Primary Health Network will be responsible for commissioning services from July 1.
Nationals Candidate for Bendigo Andy Maddison said that while treatment delivery is traditionally the responsibility of state governments, the Turnbull Coalition Government has recognised the urgency of this situation and acted.
“I’m pleased the Turnbull Coalition Team has committed this funding and delivery approach for the Bendigo region. Each community will require a different response to battle the scourge of ice and there is no “one size fits all” solution,” Mr Maddison said.
The funding for local services is part of the Turnbull Coalition Government’s response to the National Ice Taskforce report, which was handed down in December last year.
Minister for Vocational Education and Skills and Liberal Senator for Victoria Senator the Hon Scott Ryan said the community needs to take a broad approach to solving this problem.
“The Turnbull Coalition Government has committed to a range of measures, from health care to additional support for law enforcement, to try and reduce the damage ice is doing to individuals and the community.”
In addition to funding for rehabilitation services, local volunteer groups will soon be able to access grants to deliver local education and prevention programmes. The Turnbull Coalition Government is also supporting more than 1200 community sporting clubs to deliver prevention messages about ice, with a focus on regional Australia. These programmes are part of the Turnbull Coalition Government’s comprehensive $300m plan to tackle ice across Australia.