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Legislative Council - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2017-05-17 Daily Xml
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National Ice Action Strategy Funding

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (14:58): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Police a question in relation to the federal government's national ice action strategy funding.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD: South Australia has received a relatively small proportion of the available $241.5 million of federal funding to counter methamphetamine addiction in Australia, despite having the second highest number of ice users nationwide on a per capita basis. South Australia only received approximately 6.5 per cent (or approximately $11.6 million) of the $177 million in handouts made thus far. Moreover, out of the 40 local drug action teams established across the country, only two have been established in South Australia, and neither of them are based in the metropolitan area. The federal health minister's department has described the state government's input during the funding applications as lacklustre.

My question is: whether the government's participation was lacklustre or not, will the government more actively participate in a second round of applications to secure a fairer and more proportionate share of the federal funding for our state, which desperately needs the funding to combat this sinister substance and its pervasive impact on our society?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS (Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety) (14:59): I thank the honourable member for his question. Of course, the state government is formulating its response arising out of the substantial effort around the ice task force. In due course the state government and the Premier will announce the actions that will arise out of the ice task force. It has been a substantial piece of work that has occurred up to this point.

The ice task force, which myself and minister Vlahos were able to lead, travelled extensively throughout the state and spoke to a number of members within the community who have been directly affected by ice. It is hard not to be moved when you engage with so many families that have been turned upside down as a result of this insidious drug.

I am aware that South Australia received a very small proportion of the funding that the federal government made available. I think that speaks to a consistent theme that we have seen occur, where this federal government seems all too quick to deny South Australia even just its fair share. We have never wanted anything more than our fair share when it comes to various sources of funding. This serves as another example of this federal government dudding South Australia, all too often with the support of the would-be alternate government of the state.

That said, I know the Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse is committed to continuing to work as hard as she reasonably can to ensure that we do get everything we reasonably should. I also know that this state government is serious about tackling this substantial challenge. We will have plenty more to say once we announce the response to the ice task force in due course.

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