November 26 2018 Meth Taskforce report highlights Government failings The State Government’s Methamphetamine Action Plan Taskforce Report has exposed the poor decisions of the McGowan Government in tackling the scourge of methamphetamine. Opposition Leader Mike Nahan said the report identified the need to support individuals and the families of meth addicts, yet the Government had abandoned compulsory rehabilitation and cut funding to the meth helpline. “The former Government developed a model for compulsory rehabilitation and draft legislation but after 20 months in office, the McGowan Government has made no progress on the proposal, even though families are crying out for it,” Dr Nahan said. “The former Government also established the meth helpline as an important first point-of-contact for addicts, parents, families and significant others who required support and advice on treatment pathways; the McGowan Government cut $154,000 from funding for the helpline and stopped promoting it.” Dr Nahan said while the Government was patting itself on the back for having the toughest penalties in the country for traffickers they had abandoned their policy of mandatory minimum sentences for meth dealers. “At the election, the Labor Party committed to mandatory minimum sentencing for meth dealers, matching the Liberal Party’s policy which was targeted at disrupting the business model of meth dealers and disrupting supply,” Dr Nahan said. “After the election, the McGowan Government went soft and abandoned this policy removing the disincentive for meth dealers to transact in our state. “Worse, the Government is taking police officers off the beat when they are the eyes and ears on the front line protecting the community and removing the dealers from the streets.” Dr Nahan said while there were positives in the Taskforce Report, the Government would be measured on how it responded. “The Government talked about KPIs for the public sector, but we need KPIs for the Premier and his Police Minister with respect to dealing with meth dealers and supporting families who are victims of this insidious drug,” Dr Nahan said. Media Contact |
