Another inquiry into illegal drug ice and the possibility of more rehabilitation centres isn’t needed, says Dubbo Regional councillor John Ryan.
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The NSW government is establishing a Special Commission of Inquiry into crystal methamphetamine.
The inquiry into the illegal drug, more commonly known as ice, will report on the nature, prevalence and affect of ice in NSW, as well as what can be done to strengthen the response to it.
However, Cr Ryan said the answers to the inquiry were already known.
“The sooner this inquiry comes the sooner they’re going to realise it’s going to come up with the same answers that we need more rehab and detox centres especially in western NSW, especially in Dubbo,” he said.
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“I used to sit in court reporting at least one day a week and time after time after time the magistrates either had to put people in jail or let them out because there were no rehab or detox centres they could send them to.”
Cr Ryan is part of council’s Social Justice and Crime Prevention committee. The committee is working to create social change in the community and break inter-generational disadvantage. As part of it, the committee has been investigating the need for a drug court, a Koori court and a residential rehabilitation centre.
“I think they should just commit and say ‘were going to build it’,” Cr Ryan said.
“[It’s going to benefit] the people whose lives are in misery because we don’t have it, the people whose lives are affected by crime, driven by people who are addicted to ice.”
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said ice was a destructive drug that was ruining too many lives in NSW, especially in the regional centres.
“We are establishing a powerful Special Commission of Inquiry because we want every option on the table to bolster our existing efforts to combat the evolving threat of this dangerous, illegal drug – and to get help for those who need it,” she said.
The Special Commission of Inquiry into ice is expected to submit a report in 2019 after consultation with stakeholders. The inquiry will be led by Daniel Howard.