About 99 per cent of crimes can be traced back to illegal drug use, says Aboriginal Legal Service’s Ken Dennis.
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Mr Dennis, the acting regional community engagement manager for Western NSW, held a forum in Dubbo on Wednesday aimed at improving safety in the region and keeping youth out of jail.
The forum is in response to the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into drug rehabilitation services in rural, regional and remote areas, as well as youth diversion programs.
“As it is now, drugs are the biggest cause of crime. They always say it’s domestic violence but you have to think about what’s causing the domestic violence. Probably 98 or 99 per cent is all drug related,” Mr Dennis said.
“We need the rehabilitation centres to actually try and fix this drug problem. Ice is the biggest problem. And we need community programs for the young kids to try and keep them out of jail.”
Similar forums have also been conducted in Broken Hill and Walgett. In Broken Hill, Mr Dennis said the closest rehabilitation centre was 270 kilometres away. In Dubbo, the nearest rehabilitation facility is in Brewarrina.
Centres already had huge wait lists, Mr Dennis said. Establishing more would have great benefits.
“It would make a lot of difference because people are crying out for help. People have got to really want to go to rehab as well but at the moment you need that help there so people can actually help themselves,” he said.
The second focus of the forums was on juvenile youth programs and if there were enough available. Mr Dennis said those who attended the events in Broken Hill and Walgett, about 40 people apiece, said more was needed to help at risk youths.
“What these community programs are is a chance for people to have their say on keeping the kids out of jail and keeping the community healthy,” Mr Dennis said.
The responses from the forum would be recorded and submitted to the inquiry.