Ice centre gets cold welcome from Dick

THE LNP’s promise to spend $9.5 million to establish a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre in Cairns has earned a sharp rebuke from Labor, but so far no plan to match the commitment.

Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls yesterday laid bare a plan to open a multi-bed facility focusing heavily on ice addiction treatment, including a $2 million fly-in, fly-out service for patients in remote Cape York communities.

Health Minister Cameron Dick reacted with a call for Mr Nicholls to apologise for the “cruel” cuts he made to the health sector as treasurer under Campbell Newman.

“Tim Nicholls sacked 4400 health workers when he was Campbell Newman’s righthand man,” Mr Dick said.

“This includes doctors and nurses, who play a vital role caring for patients and families impacted by drugs.

“Tim Nicholls even cut $14 million out of drug and alcohol services, forcing 20 staff out of agencies like Drug Arm, Boystown and the Alcohol and Drug Foundation of Queensland.

“These cuts reduced drug and alcohol services on the Sunshine Coast, Logan, Brisbane, Gympie, Bowen, Bundaberg, Charleville and Toowoomba.”

Mr Nicholls is promising a $52 million action plan to fight the scourge of ice. Cairns will be one of four regional centres to receive a “dedicated, stateof- the-art” treatment facility.

Labor this week announced $16.4 million in new funding over four years for drug and alcohol treatment services.

“Since our election in 2015, we’ve recruited more than 4160 nurses, 1600 doctors and 1200 allied health professionals across our state,” Mr Dick said.