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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2018-06-06 Daily Xml
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Aboriginal Drug and Alcohol Council

The Hon. F. PANGALLO (16:19): I move:

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 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 ADAC.

A recent report has confirmed that ADAC has had its funding cut by the federal government to the tune of $700,000, which will immediately impact on services and staffing at the council. The decision was made during National Reconciliation Week no less. This decision will only serve to widen the gap for Indigenous South Australians needing to access drug rehabilitation services. ADAC provides drug rehabilitation services on the front line in the battle against the state's ice epidemic.

As noted in the motion, the disturbing report released by the National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program late last year revealed that Adelaide was the methamphetamine or 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—more than double the national average. The rate is among the highest in the world and is more than double the national capital city average, as well as being the highest level recorded for the Adelaide area in the data's eight-year history.

Despite these astounding figures of ice use in South Australia last year, it was revealed that the state will only get $15.5 million for drug treatment under the federal government's National Ice Action Strategy, which is $1.5 million less than the state's population share demands. The $244 million devoted to local treatment services was carved up nationally based on outdated 2011 census figures, using a model that gave extra to those in regional areas. South Australians should not be losing out to other states.

ADAC was formed in 1993, 25 years ago, as a South Australian community response to the royal commission into black deaths in custody recommendations to provide a community-controlled response through a statewide peak substance misuse organisation. ADAC expertise has been recognised by the commonwealth government over numerous years, with ADAC staff being members of nearly every National Drug Strategy Committee since 1998. ADAC employs 59 staff across South Australia and is the largest provider of alcohol and other drugs services for Indigenous people in the state.

ADAC staff include five Aboriginal people with either a Master of Indigenous Health or graduate diploma, registered nurses, enrolled nurses, counsellors and a range of other qualifications, including Aboriginal primary health. The organisation has seen an increase in the use of illicit drugs since its inception, creating programs to tackle the scourge of alcohol and illicit drugs by providing tailored culturally and linguistically appropriate alcohol and other drug treatment services to Indigenous and non-Indigenous clients.

The federal government's decision to cut funding to ADAC means that the organisation will close due to substantial federal funding cuts. Services provided by 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. In fact, 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.

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. Scott Wilson, chief executive of ADAC, was told last week that $700,000 in annual federal funding would cease at the end of 2018. While separate funding grants for the rehabilitation centre and two-day programs in Port Augusta are due to continue until 2020, we have been told that staff will soon be laid off, following last week's decision.

ADAC has confirmed that the council would not be able to keep operating the centres once its main funding grant ends. ADAC will soon be forced to stop taking clients from the end of September at the Port Augusta centre as the program runs for 12 weeks.

We cannot stand by as a parliament while the organisation is at risk of closure and people desperate for assistance to recover from their drug addictions are left floundering. We are losing an entire generation of South Australians to ice. Other organisations are also affected by the federal government's decision. The decision is cruel, made without evidentiary basis, and will only serve to adversely affect the most vulnerable in our community.

The federal government has not made public its reasons for reducing or defunding services, and I call on the federal government to make public its reasons for reducing or defunding services. The effect of the federal government's decision will only serve to put pressure on state-funded services and will increase demand on the state's mental health and homelessness support sectors. I implore my colleagues in this chamber to support this motion in urging the federal government to reverse its decision as a matter of urgency.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. I.K. Hunter.

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