A Shorten Labor government would invest $2 million to upgrade ‘The Buttery’ rehabilitation service in Binna Burra, enabling it to expand its outreach service to users of ice on the north coast and their families.
The announcement was made by Labor’s alcohol and illicit drugs policy spokesperson Stephen Jones, who visited the Buttery on Monday with Richmond MP Justine Elliot and Labor’s candidate for Page Janelle Saffin.
‘Labor understands that frontline health workers and the people they are treating need more help and support,’ Mr Jones said.
‘Labor will always put people first in our approach to dealing with illicit drug use.
‘Law enforcement efforts will only succeed if greater emphasis is placed on prevention strategies. That is why The Buttery’s outreach service is so valuable; it will have a positive impact on the lives of many people in the local area.
‘When someone puts their hand up and says that they want to turn their life around we need to make sure that they can get into treatment right away.
‘Sadly, this just isn’t an option for many people in the northern rivers region. Existing services are doing their best with one armed tied behind their back; they are over-stretched and waiting lists are getting longer and longer.
‘This investment by Labor will be a game changer for people who want to get help.’
Justine Elliot said the funding commitment would ‘make a real difference for local families’.
‘Labor’s commitment will prove a huge boost for the service, which runs residential addiction treatment and outreach programs in the region,’ Ms Elliot said.
‘It will prove a real lifeline to a service under the pump to meet growing demand.’
Janelle Saffin said that increased funding for treatment services and prevention strategies will help communities fight drug addiction, including ice.
‘Illicit drug use, including ice, is having a devastating impact on communities in the northern rivers,’ Ms Safin said.
‘Frontline workers at The Buttery are doing incredible work, but they need all the help they can get and we are there for them.’
The Buttery says its waiting list has extended out to six months, as more and more people across the electorates of Richmond and neighbouring Page seek help to overcome drug addiction.
Labor has accused the Coalition Government of ‘abandoning’ the north coast over funding, saying it ‘has promised the world on combating the “scourge of ice” but delivered little, particularly in regional Australia.’
According to the Opposition, almost $1 billion has been has been cut from the Health Flexible Funds, which includes funds supporting alcohol and illicit drug rehabilitation and treatment as well as prevention strategies.
It adds that for two years in a row the Coalition has only offered a temporary, one-year funding extension for services relying on the NGO Treatment Grants.
‘These short-sighted funding decisions by the Turnbull Coalition have created enormous uncertainty and administrative distraction in the delivery of essential regional health services’ Mr Jones said.
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