Aboriginal Drug and Alcohol Council

Adjourned debate on motion of Hon. F. Pangallo:

That this council—

1. Acknowledges a disturbing report released by the National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program late last year that revealed Adelaide was the methamphetamine (ice) 'capital' of Australia, with the city found to have the highest levels of use—about 80 doses per 1,000 persons per day. This compares to the national average of 30 doses per 1,000 persons per day;

2. Recognises the invaluable work of the Aboriginal Drug and Alcohol Council (ADAC) in providing culturally and linguistically appropriate alcohol and other drug treatment services for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous clients;

3. Notes that ADAC is unique in Australia as it is the only Indigenous peak body of its kind representing 30 Aboriginal community organisations from across South Australia;

4. Notes the services provided by the ADAC include a residential rehabilitation centre in Port Augusta and diversionary programs in Adelaide run by former AFL footballer Troy Bond, which have helped many Indigenous South Australians rebuild their lives;

5. Notes the Footsteps Road to Recovery program has received 350 referrals in the past two years, with five former clients gaining employment and many more undertaking voluntary work in their communities;

6. Recognises that up to 40 people per day undertake diversionary programs, which run for 48 weeks of the year with up to 9,000 participants each year.

7. Notes the federal parliamentary Joint Committee on Law Enforcement's final report into crystal methamphetamine published in March 2018 recommended that: '…Australian governments continue to advance collaboration with Indigenous communities and Indigenous health experts to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate alcohol and other drug treatment services';

8. Notes that this front-line drug and alcohol rehabilitation organisation faces closure because of a federal government funding cut; and

9. Urges the federal government to reverse its decision to cease $700,000 in annual federal funding to the ADAC.

(Continued from 6 June 2018.)

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (17:25): I rise to make a contribution on what is a very important motion before the parliament. The Marshall Liberal government shares the honourable member's concerns about the increase in methamphetamine-related harms in South Australia. We have seen further evidence of that published prominently in The Advertiser today—front page, I think, it was, if I am not mistaken—which I read quite early this morning. There is no doubt at all that this is a significant problem for our community, and I commend the honourable member for bringing it to the attention of the parliament.

Members who have been in this place for a reasonable amount of time would know that it is something I have been pursuing personally with a great deal of vigour for a number of years now. In terms of ice use, the use of methamphetamine has been steadily increasing in the Adelaide metropolitan area since 2012. There has been a very troubling increase in the harms associated with its use, and with methamphetamine use in particular, an increase related to the use of the more potent form of the drug, crystal methamphetamine (ice) is also noted, as I indicated.

Data shows increases across a range of indicators, including health presentations, drug driving detections, police apprehensions and diversion from the criminal justice system for health assessment. National and state policing agencies are working hard to reduce supply, with recent successes in shutting down drug labs across the state and seizing large amounts of methamphetamine.

In turning to health responses, it is important to note that there have been significant partnerships fostered between government and non-government treatment sectors in South Australia, which are delivering new services to address crystal methamphetamine use, including developing best practice clinical guidelines for the management of drug dependence and amphetamine-induced psychosis—a very serious issue. There has been an expansion of available treatment services, with 18 new residential rehabilitation beds in regional South Australia and over 5,000 new outpatient appointments in regional and metropolitan new locations. There is also the establishment of four new family support groups.

The government has been involved in assisting community organisations and grassroots sporting clubs to respond to the harms from methamphetamine use through the Tackling Illegal Drugs Program, which is delivered by the Alcohol and Drug Foundation. We also had the launch of the Know Your Options website, which provides a single access point for individuals, families and health professionals with information about alcohol and other drug treatment and support services.

Turning to the specific issue raised in the motion about the Aboriginal Drug and Alcohol Council, it is important to note that they are also undertaking valuable work that is helping communities respond to problems associated with substance misuse, including the provision of alcohol and other drug treatment services.

ADAC, as it is called—Aboriginal Drug and Alcohol Council—is unique in Australia as the only Indigenous alcohol and other drug peak body, representing some 30 Aboriginal community organisations from across South Australia. It provides critical support in the community through the operation of the 12-bed Footsteps rehabilitation centre in Port Augusta. That is a 12-week program that assists both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal (it should be pointed out) people to address their alcohol and other drug problems. Secondly, we have the two Stepping Stones programs at the Ceduna and Port Augusta day centres. Stepping Stones provides assessment, counselling, treatment and referral of people with alcohol and other drug-related problems.

The Port Augusta-based Footsteps rehabilitation centre and the Stepping Stones day centres in Port Augusta and Ceduna are an important part of ensuring timely and culturally appropriate care to members of this community. It must be said that the Marshall Liberal government urges the Australian government to work with Indigenous communities and service providers to maximise alcohol and other drug treatment services. We will continue to work with our federal colleagues, non-government organisations and other service providers to develop strategies that ensure continuation of services for at-risk communities and improve the health outcomes for every South Australian.

There are some positive signs. It is easy to dwell on the negatives in these situations and, of course, it is a fairly bleak situation, but there are some positive signs that have emerged in more recent times that I think warrant the attention of the chamber. It is important that we recognise the progress that has been made at reducing the harm caused by substance abuse. Without acknowledgement of our positive achievements, the community will not have hope that the problems we face will ever be resolved. I, for one, do have hope.

The data on alcohol and other drugs indicates that progress is being achieved in some areas. I will give a short list now and, of course, it is not exhaustive. There would be many other examples that can be cited but these are of significance. Firstly, less school-aged children are drinking alcohol in South Australia; next, the proportion of 12 to 17 year olds who have never consumed alcohol has increased from 68 per cent in 2013 to 78 per cent in 2016. Also, the proportion of young Australians aged 12 to 17 years engaging in single occasion risky drinking at least once a month has also decreased, from 8.7 per cent in 2013 to 5.4 per cent in 2016.

The proportion of South Australians aged 14 years and older who reported the use of cannabis in the past 12 months has been decreasing steadily since 2001. Furthermore, ecstasy use amongst South Australians aged 14 years and over has decreased from 2.8 per cent in 2013 to 1.6 per cent in 2016, just over half. There has also been a decrease in the prevalence of methamphetamine use across Australia, from 2.1 per cent of the population aged 14 and over reporting use in 2013 to 1.4 per cent in 2016. These are significant positive developments which I think need to be noted in the chamber and in the broader community.

As I said, it is easy to become disillusioned with the view that our society is losing this battle. Whilst there are reasons for some pessimism, there are also, as I have outlined, reasons for optimism, which it is important to note. In terms of election commitments, the Marshall Liberal government is committed to improving health and wellbeing outcomes for all South Australians who are experiencing harm from illicit drugs in particular. We will facilitate new pathways in treatment, including through youth treatment orders, provide a legislative framework for young people with acute substance abuse problems, and will support families who are struggling to have their children engaged in treatment through voluntary mechanisms.

We will also implement a pilot of the Matrix drug treatment program in the Riverland region. Just some detail on that: the Matrix program is an intensive outpatient recovery program designed to address methamphetamine dependence by combining practical skills training and structured social support. As part of that, we are providing three commonwealth-funded Matrix program pilots and they are currently operating in metropolitan Adelaide. If the pilot program in the Riverland is found to be effective, the government will look to extend the Matrix programs to other identified areas of need across regional South Australia.

The government has introduced amendments to the Police Drug Diversion Initiative to ensure that it is and remains an early intervention initiative for those who need it most. Individuals who are infrequently detected through this program will continue to access health assessment and intervention; however, adults who repeatedly access this system will no longer be diverted after their third infraction but will instead progress through the criminal justice system. This is something I have highlighted in this place on previous occasions where I questioned the former government a number of times about individuals who have been through this process literally dozens of times.

In fact, if my memory serves me correctly, there was one individual who may have been through it, I think the number was 32 times, or something of that order, showing that the program was completely ineffectual and really being mocked by that individual in particular, and many, many others. This is a very good initiative that I strongly support on behalf of the government and I believe that three strikes is certainly enough when you are dealing with these very serious issues. Such an approach will preserve the intention of this initiative as an early intervention program, exactly as it should be and exactly as it is touted to be.

In my final comments on the motion of the Hon. Mr Pangallo, I would like to move some amendments to the motion. The government is largely supportive of the motion but we would like to move the following amendments. I move:

Delete paragraph 1 and insert:

1. Acknowledges the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission's recent report on the National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program that revealed Adelaide was found to have high levels of methamphetamine use—about 80 doses per 1,000 persons per day.

Delete paragraph 8

Delete paragraph 9 and insert:

9. Urges the federal government to work with Indigenous communities and service providers to maximise alcohol and other drug treatment services.

I move the amendments so they are on the record. They are only relatively minor amendments. We are hopeful that the member will accept them. If he does, the government will be happy to support the motion with those amendments.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. T.J. Stephens.