A Shorten Labor Government will invest $3.2 million to assist the Canning community to combat the scourge of ice.
Western Australia’s rate of amphetamine use is the highest in the country with 3.8 per cent of the population using amphetamines compared to the national average of 2.1 per cent.
The West Australian Liberal Government has no comprehensive plan to address the scourge of ice in WA.
“Despite talking a big game, Tony Abbott has turned his back on the ice crisis in the West, with cuts to funding for local treatment services,” said Bill Shorten.
“Neither the Barnett nor the Abbott Liberal governments are taking steps to address ice related crime and anti-social behaviour.”
“Labor is serious about supporting the Canning community in its fight against crime,” said Bill Shorten.
Labor candidate Matt Keogh said the people of Canning are suffering directly as a result of the Liberal Party’s failure to tackle ice.
“Police statistics show Armadale has one of the highest crime rates in the Perth metropolitan area.”
“In the year to June, there were 571 assaults, 377 home burglaries, 34 robberies and 130 car thefts. We know much of this crime is directly attributable to the Liberals’ failure to address the growing ice crisis.”
Only Labor will support the Canning community with this challenge – not cut the very services needed to tackle these problems.
New CCTV cameras in Armadale and Mandurah
A Shorten Labor Government will contribute $200,000 to install new CCTV cameras in crime hotspots in Armadale and Mandurah.
CCTV cameras are a powerful tool in the battle against crime and anti-social behaviour. They enhance the ability of the Police to monitor crime hotspots and act as a deterrent to discourage criminal activity.
Access to rehabilitation services
A Shorten Labor Government will ensure access to drug and alcohol rehabilitation services in Canning will continue by providing $2.7 million for the Palmerston Association Inc. and Hope Community Services Inc. to guarantee funding for these services to 2019.
These are the only two rehabilitation services in Canning and neither has funding beyond the end of this financial year because of the Abbott Government’s cuts of almost $800 million to the Health Flexible Funds.
Families in Canning need certainty that these services will not close in the next 12 months, and only a Shorten Labor Government will provide that certainty.
Ice related domestic violence
A Shorten Labor Government will support women and children escaping domestic and family violence to get the legal support they need by investing $270,000 for the Peel Community Legal Service to provide additional specialist family violence legal services, recognising the impact of alcohol and drug-related violence in the community.
Domestic violence is claiming too many lives, fracturing families and communities.
In March this year, Labor announced it would invest more than $70 million over three years for critical family violence services, including targeted legal services, helping people who have experienced family violence to stay in their home and more research into perpetrator accountability.
A Shorten Labor Government will put domestic violence at the centre of national political debate in order to change these chilling statistics.
THURSDAY, 3 SEPTEMBER 2015
MEDIA CONTACT: LEADER’S OFFICE MEDIA UNIT (02) 6277 4053
SUPPORT FOR CANNING RESIDENTS IN ADDRESSING ICE
03 September 2015