Ice Action Plan

Today, Premier Daniel Andrews released Victoria’s Ice Action Plan.

Across our state, good, smart kids are dropping out of school, running away from their families and falling out of society.

Workers are getting attacked. Innocent people are dying, in their homes and on the roads.

Ice is ruining lives, and the time to act is now.

The Andrews Labor Government will embark on a landmark, $45.5 million effort to reduce the supply, demand and harm of a drug that’s ruining lives in Sydenham.

Natalie Hutchins, has stated that ice use is a complex issue and the Ice Action Plan deals with the aspects that cannot wait. The Ice Action Plan is about supporting families, treating users and making our community safer.

 

Under the Plan, the Government will invest $4.7 million to help families identify and manage ice users and $1 million to support frontline workers who are at risk of getting attacked at work.

The Government will invest $18 million to expand drug treatment and rehabilitation, so users can get the help they need, and set up a dedicated Ice Help Line that directs families and health professionals to advice.

The Plan also includes new measures to reduce the growing supply of ice on our streets.

A $4.5 million plan to crack down on clandestine drug labs and tough new laws to stop dealers and manufacturers will make our community safer.

The Government will also invest $15 million for new drug and booze buses and provide $500,000 to help community groups tackle ice use in our local area.

A stable job means a stable life, and the Andrews Labor Government is improving the prospects of young, at-risk people in Sydenham with the $1 billion Back to Work Plan and the $320 million TAFE Rescue Fund.

The work of the Premier’s Ice Action Taskforce will continue, with a long-term role to support the implementation of the Plan and advise the Government where more attention is needed.

 

Quotes attributable to Premier of Victoria, Daniel Andrews

“Across our state, good, smart kids are dropping out of school, running away from their families and falling out of society. Ice is ruining lives, and the time to act is now.”

“We’ll give users the treatment they need, we’ll give families the support they deserve and we’ll come down hard on the peddlers who put this substance on our streets.”

 

Quotes attributable to Member for Sydenham, Natalie Hutchins

“The Ice Action Plan is about supporting our community– that’s my priority.”

“In addition to the Ice Action Plan we are implementing a $1 billion plan to get Victoria back to work and a $320 million TAFE Rescue Fund because skills mean jobs, and a stable job means a stable life.”

Ice Action Plan

Ice Help Line

Update: Wednesday 22 April 2015

The Andrews Labor Government has established a new Ice Help Line as part of a $45.5 million Ice Action Plan to support families and ice users, Minister for Mental Health Martin Foley announced today.

The Help Line – 1800 ICE ADVICE (1800 423 238) – will direct users and families to the treatment and support services they need, and provide general information to the community about ice and its effects.

The service will be free to call from landlines, and also provide important clinical advice to health professionals working with ice users.

Turning Point will operate this 24/7 Help Line, drawing upon its extensive experience in providing phone-based support.

The 1800 ICE ADVICE phone service is now taking calls, coinciding with the launch of the new www.ice.vic.gov.au website.

The website provides updates on the Labor Government’s efforts to stop ice on the streets and at the source, and information on treatment services and how the community can get involved in tackling the drug.

Tenders are also now open with the Department of Health and Human Services for the development and delivery of the Government’s new Family Drug Education Program.

The program will provide support for at least 1000 Victorians per year as part of $4.7 million allocated to support families affected by a loved one’s drug use. It will help families to recognise when someone has a drug problem and what to do.

The Andrews Labor Government’s Ice Action Plan includes:

  • $4.7 million in extra support for families and communities to address ice use, including a new, dedicated Ice Help Line
  • $18 million to expand innovative drug treatment services, focusing on rehabilitation for users in rural and regional areas
  • $1.8 million to expand Needle and Syringe Programs to make harm reduction more effective

Quotes attributable to Minister for Mental Health, Martin Foley

“The ice advice line will give users the treatment they need and families the support they deserve.”

“People in rural and regional Victoria are suffering disproportionately from the effects of this vicious drug.”

“Through the Help Line, we’re making it easier for families to get advice and easier for their loved ones to get treatment.”