United fight against ice Leader goes on the frontline
ICE addicts, emergency service staff and caseworkers have met state LNP leaders in the latest round of community forums to tackle drug use in Townsville.
Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington, deputy Tim Mander and Burdekin MP Dale Last spent the day in Townsville for the second of four regional forums being held this month.
“I am committed to stopping this scourge and building stronger, healthier and happier communities,” Ms Frecklington said.
She said ice had “infiltrated” Queensland’s towns and attacked “the very soul and fabric” of regional communities.
“There is nothing more heartbreaking than when a person from my community reaches out to tell me how ice has devastated their family, extended family and livelihood.”
Mr Last said the forum was part of a “much bigger picture” in the fight to reduce ice addiction.
“Very clearly ice cuts across all aspects of our community ... so it is non discriminatory and I can assure you that we have a very significant problem in our regional communities,” he said.
Thuringowa Labor MP Aaron Harper said the forum constituted as the Opposition “handing in the Government’s homework”.
“We’ve done this over the last 12 months, and came up with 65 recommendations for an action plan,” Mr Harper said.
He said Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk would announce the plan’s rollout “soon”.
“There was $ 43 million committed over five years for treating patients, family members or anyone that was subjected to drug use,” he said.