The wait for a court to reduce drug-fuelled crime in Dubbo is set to continue until at least 2021, more than four years and two elections after politicians expressed support for it.
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Attorney-General Mark Speakman admitted "there is good evidence that it [a drug court] reduces reoffending rates" but said the government would "see what recommendations the ice inquiry makes in January" before it decided on whether to build a drug court or not.
He made the comments when questioned at a parliamentary legal affairs committee hearing in Sydney on Monday.
"One of the issues with any drug court is the need for wraparound services...those issues will be part of the budget process for 2021," Mr Speakman said in response to questions from Labor committee member Adam Searle.
Mr Searle asked Mr Speakman about remarks former state Member for Dubbo Troy Grant made in a 2015 television interview.
"Prior to the 2015 election, the former member for Dubbo and the later police minister Troy Grant, said that plans to expand the drug court to Dubbo were almost finalised...can you tell us why the drug court has not been expanded...," Mr Searle asked.
Mr Speakman said he was "not familiar with that bold claim by the former police minister and member for Dubbo".
In the NITV interview, Mr Grant said [in reference to a drug court]: "that work is well down the train and close to being finalised. I absolutely believe that a rehabilitation centre, working with a drug court, can make a difference".
In January, before the state election, Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the government "supported in principle" a Dubbo drug court pilot in parallel with increased rehabilitation services.
State Member for Dubbo Dugald Saunders said he would fight hard to make sure the drug court pilot happened.
Before the government started its current ice inquiry a parliamentary inquiry recommended a drug court be built in Dubbo and rehabilitation services increased.
