Chris Crewther (Dunkley, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Shortly after my election, I heard from an anxious mother seeking advice on how to deal with her ice addicted 17-year-old son. She was afraid of her son's violent episodes and told me that she felt helpless and completely without support. This is the human face of the ice epidemic, which affects the families of more than 200,000 ice users Australia wide.

Prior to my election, I committed to working with the community to tackle the health, law and order, and other issues stemming from drug and alcohol abuse. So last month it was a privilege to join with the Minister for Health, the Hon. Greg Hunt, and Peninsula Health CEO Sue Williams to announce funding for our Local Drug Action Team on the Mornington Peninsula, the first of 220 task forces nationally to be funded by the coalition government. The local drug action task force will receive an initial $40,000 to engage with 95 peninsula sporting groups to prevent drug use as part of the government's $298 million National Ice Action Strategy. I am proud to say that I am working hard to deliver on my promise and to support my community. The establishment of the local drug action task force is the latest in a series of actions to improve the health and wellbeing of residents in Dunkley. I acknowledge and thank Peninsula Health, the Alcohol and Other Drugs Alliance, RAD-FMP and education, sporting and other community leaders for their continued local engagement and support. I look forward to delivering this initiative.