Federal Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch said all levels of government must take a bipartisan approach and work together to rid Far North Queensland communities from the scourge of ICE.
Mr Entsch, who today attended the Kuranda march against ICE, said this insidious drug needed to be stamped out at all costs.
“ICE doesn’t discriminate – it is killing our sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers,” Mr Entsch said.
“The scourge of ICE is tearing apart families, relationships and communities. It is happening every day.
“ICE use across Queensland, particularly in regional and remote communities, has skyrocketed in recent years – it has fast become the number one illicit drug in the state.
“There is no doubt whatsoever we are in the midst of an ‘ICE crisis’ the like of which have not been seen since the ‘Heroin Crisis’ of the 80s and 90s.”
Mr Entsch said there was no ‘one size fits all’ approach to tackling the scourge of ICE.
“All levels of government along with industry, communities, families and individuals must work together to tackle this problem,” he said.
“Together, we must all work towards reducing the supply of ICE, reducing the demand of ICE and reducing the harms from ICE.”
“Make no mistake about it – the federal government is 100 per cent committed to stopping ICE at its source.
“We are targeting the people who peddle and sell this hideous drug to our kids – they are the real criminals.”
Mr Entsch said the federal government had committed more than $685 million over four years to reduce the impact of drug and alcohol misuse.
“This includes funding for primary health networks for locally-based treatments,” he said.
“It also includes 260 new services for indigenous communities and funding for the Alcohol and Drug Foundation for 220 new local drug action teams.
“But there is no doubt that more needs to be done.
“We need to work together to tackle this scourge otherwise we risk losing a whole generation to this horrific drug.”
