Drugs like ice are having a devastating impact on our communities and more needs to be done to tackle this growing problem.
I really want to encourage people to be actively involved in taking ice off our streets by dobbing in a dealer. Our police, our ambos and other health workers, particularly in hospital emergency departments, are often on the front line of this scourge, but it is also ripping families apart. Halting the spread of ice, or methamphetamines, requires a whole-of-community response, particularly to fight back against those who are making a profit out of the death and misery of others by peddling drugs.
The Dob in a Dealer campaign through Crime Stoppers is one way that the community can help stop the manufacture and supply of drugs in our local areas. Local residents often have vital information that can help solve and prevent crimes. Making a report to Crime Stoppers is completely anonymous and can help get drug dealers off our streets and reduce the supply of drugs. If people have information about someone in the community who is manufacturing or supplying drugs, I would urge them to call Crime Stoppers on 1800333000 or report securely online at www.crimestoppersqld.com.au.
Since the launch of Dob in a Dealer in February 2016, there have been over 5,000 reports to Crime Stoppers, including 219 isolated reports for the Sunshine Coast alone.
I also want to talk about the LNP's five-point plan to take ice off our streets which includes $1 million in funding to encourage the community to dob in a dealer to Crime Stoppers, and we believe that the penalties must be far tougher in tackling drug use. When in government we implemented strong criminal reforms to tackle criminal gangs and introduced strong penalties for drug-trafficking offences.
If elected, a tough-on-crime LNP government will keep criminal bikie clubhouses closed and provide the resources our police need to keep our streets safe. We will work with the federal government to ensure better cooperation between state and Commonwealth law enforcement agencies to tackle ice supply and distribution, and we will deliver additional drug treatment services and better community awareness programs.
To watch my speech in Parliament, go to http://tv.parliament.qld.gov.au/?reference=0Mba20171012_184255
