THE national ice taskforce must achieve results sooner rather than later, according to Ovens Valley Member Tim McCurdy.
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Mr McCurdy has taken a personal interest in the issue and was last year a part of the Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into methamphetamine.
The Nationals MP said particular focus needs to be placed on treatment and prevention.
“I don’t want to spend another year developing plans, we need programs going now,” he said.
“I have seen how it has impacted our community, I hear from families and I have a really strong interest in it.
“I have spoken to families who are suffering and they are devastated, and these are families who have never been involved in drugs, they just don’t know where to start.”
Mr McCurdy and Nationals Senator for Victoria Bridget McKenzie yesterday welcomed the Federal Government’s national ice action strategy.
Mr Abbott announced the plan on Wednesday, which will start with a taskforce led by former Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police Ken Lay and overseen by the Assistant Minister for Health Fiona Nash and Minister for Justice Michael Keenan.
Ms McKenzie said it was time everyone united to rid communities of the drug.
“We cannot let our young people and our communities be held hostage by drug dealers, bikies and organised criminals who are profiting from the misery inflicted by this growing epidemic,” Ms McKenzie said.
“Communities right across regional and rural Victoria have been looking at ways they can assist in the fight against this insidious drug.
“Now it is time for all levels of government to work together to combat ice.”
While both politicians welcomed the plan, Mr McCurdy was wary of how the strategy would be rolled out.
Although violent crime was becoming more frequent and authorities needed to be tough on dealers, he said the focus should be on educating people to not use the drug in the first place.
“It takes such a long time to rehabilitate so I want them to look at more beds in regional Victoria and providing assistance to families,” he said.