2 July 2015
Leader of The Nationals and Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh has expressed deep concern that the Melbourne Labor Government is not providing adequate resources into rural and regional communities to assist them in dealing with the ice epidemic.
We need services on the ground in our regional and rural cities and towns “ Mr Walsh said.
“It is critical that we have services in our own communities that can deal with the addiction and take immediate steps to tackle it – families must have local options “ he said.
Echuca Regional Health is a key service provider and its new state of the art hospital staff and facilities are well placed to provide specific services that with additional funding would be able to accept direct client self-referrals and provide counselling for family members.
“I am aware that Echuca Regional Health has consistently applied for funding to effectively treat ice addicts and support their families “ Mr Walsh said.
“It is bitterly disappointing that yet another submission this time in conjunction with Kyabram District Health Service and Rochester & Elmore District Health Service has been unsuccessful.”
The Labor Government announced its Ice Action Plan of $45.5 on 4th March 2015 and
Mr Walsh said he immediately wrote to the Premier calling for funding to be provided to Echuca Regional Health to meet the ever increasing demands our community is facing.
“It is now more than four months since Premier Andrews announced his Ice Action Plan and we are yet to see any real outcome in our rural communities.”
“Meanwhile ice continues to infiltrate our communities and our families “ Mr Walsh said.
The Riverine Herald in its lead article of 26 June 2015 reported that 400 people squeezed into a recent drug forum where emotions ranged from shock heartache frustration and hope.