❓ Mr. Hatton asks about the Liberal-National government's efforts to address meth-related problems. The Minister for Mental Health details the government's meth strategy, including a new helpline, public discussion paper, increased rehab beds, and funding for drug education.
AnsweredQoN 648Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
METHAMPHETAMINE
STRATEGY
648. Mr C.D. HATTON to the
Minister for Mental Health:
Can the minister please update and inform the house on what
the Liberal–National government is doing to help families and
individuals dealing with meth-related problems?
STRATEGY
648. Mr C.D. HATTON to the
Minister for Mental Health:
Can the minister please update and inform the house on what
the Liberal–National government is doing to help families and
individuals dealing with meth-related problems?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Balcatta for the question, but firstly
may I acknowledge the many students from Denmark Primary School who are in the gallery
today, from the member for Warren–Blackwood's electorate.
As members in this chamber know, $14.9 million was added to
this year's budget for the government's meth strategy. I am
very pleased to say that we are making very good progress within that area in a
very short space of time. In fact yesterday, as a number of members are well
aware, I announced the establishment of a dedicated meth helpline. That meth
helpline has been very effective, and I will put the number out now: 1800 874
878.
The purpose of this helpline is to help people who are just
not sure where to go, what to do or who to speak with to ask questions. They
can ring this number and be directed to counsellors—professional people
who can provide support to them directly, or to their families or friends, or
to other people who need some assistance. There are dedicated people for each
of those areas—the users, the parents and the families—and the
service will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It is confidential
and provides positive counselling, but it also directs people to the services
that are most suitable for the issues they are raising. I encourage all members
to make sure that they let their constituents know that this number exists and
that it will make a difference.
Before the announcement about the compulsory drug treatment
program, we also announced this week a public discussion paper. We have already
formed a steering group, which is the expert group, and formed a community
group that has already met once and will meet again. This week we announced
that the public discussion paper was out with 10 questions on it that we would
like responses to, to help us formulate how we deal with the critical issues
that will go towards the criteria in the legislation. That has been well
received as well and I am really pleased with the way the community action
group, the advisory group, has responded. They responded quickly and they have
a lot of people who are very interested in that, and I know we will get a lot
of submissions from this discussion paper that has gone out as well. People
have until 1 December to respond to the discussion paper, but I encourage them
not to wait until the end of that time, but to come in quickly.
At the same time, we have the wider meth strategy, with 60
additional beds—52 rehab beds and eight low detox ones. The tenders for
those beds have closed. We are currently going through the criteria assessment
and we should have announcements on those locations around Western Australia by
mid-October. We have already put more funding into the drug education school
program—an additional $500 000 has gone in and work is underway. We
have also expanded the statewide community alcohol and drug service personnel.
Those things have happened already, but it is not the end. We still have plenty
to do, but I think members will find that this Liberal–National
government is making a big difference in the meth strategy area, and it will
continue to do so. I thank those members also who have asked the Minister for
Police and I to come out to their meetings with people; it has been very
informative for us, and getting that information back from them also feeds back
into all the strategies that we have underway. We are doing it, but I encourage
members once again to promote the meth helpline because it really will help
every member of our community, and I think we have that responsibility.
may I acknowledge the many students from Denmark Primary School who are in the gallery
today, from the member for Warren–Blackwood's electorate.
As members in this chamber know, $14.9 million was added to
this year's budget for the government's meth strategy. I am
very pleased to say that we are making very good progress within that area in a
very short space of time. In fact yesterday, as a number of members are well
aware, I announced the establishment of a dedicated meth helpline. That meth
helpline has been very effective, and I will put the number out now: 1800 874
878.
The purpose of this helpline is to help people who are just
not sure where to go, what to do or who to speak with to ask questions. They
can ring this number and be directed to counsellors—professional people
who can provide support to them directly, or to their families or friends, or
to other people who need some assistance. There are dedicated people for each
of those areas—the users, the parents and the families—and the
service will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It is confidential
and provides positive counselling, but it also directs people to the services
that are most suitable for the issues they are raising. I encourage all members
to make sure that they let their constituents know that this number exists and
that it will make a difference.
Before the announcement about the compulsory drug treatment
program, we also announced this week a public discussion paper. We have already
formed a steering group, which is the expert group, and formed a community
group that has already met once and will meet again. This week we announced
that the public discussion paper was out with 10 questions on it that we would
like responses to, to help us formulate how we deal with the critical issues
that will go towards the criteria in the legislation. That has been well
received as well and I am really pleased with the way the community action
group, the advisory group, has responded. They responded quickly and they have
a lot of people who are very interested in that, and I know we will get a lot
of submissions from this discussion paper that has gone out as well. People
have until 1 December to respond to the discussion paper, but I encourage them
not to wait until the end of that time, but to come in quickly.
At the same time, we have the wider meth strategy, with 60
additional beds—52 rehab beds and eight low detox ones. The tenders for
those beds have closed. We are currently going through the criteria assessment
and we should have announcements on those locations around Western Australia by
mid-October. We have already put more funding into the drug education school
program—an additional $500 000 has gone in and work is underway. We
have also expanded the statewide community alcohol and drug service personnel.
Those things have happened already, but it is not the end. We still have plenty
to do, but I think members will find that this Liberal–National
government is making a big difference in the meth strategy area, and it will
continue to do so. I thank those members also who have asked the Minister for
Police and I to come out to their meetings with people; it has been very
informative for us, and getting that information back from them also feeds back
into all the strategies that we have underway. We are doing it, but I encourage
members once again to promote the meth helpline because it really will help
every member of our community, and I think we have that responsibility.
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