Member for Maroochydore Fiona Simpson has called for urgent action to tackle the drug problem on the Sunshine Coast following the latest shocking statistics.
Police crime statistics currently reveal reported drug offences in Maroochydore for the last 12 months were 1106 out of 4802 on the Sunshine Coast.
She said that Queensland needs a targeted, comprehensive plan to tackle this issue and get dangerous drugs off our streets.
“We want people to be safe in their homes and on the roads which means the drug problem is everyone's problem as it is fuelling road accidents, burglaries and violence,” Ms Simpson said.
“Only this week a paramedic told me how serious the issue was in our greater region and the erratic and dangerous behaviour he was witnessing and it confirms it's a serious problem for our whole community.
“I commend police for their hard work to catch people dealing drugs. However, the laws need to back-up their efforts.
“I'd also encourage people who know of someone dealing dangerous drugs to dob them in via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report directly to police.”
“I call on the State Government to do more to crack-down on serious organised crime and to toughen the laws, not weaken them, particularly in regard to the ICE epidemic.
Ms Simpson said that the former LNP Government had a solid record of tackling drug use in Queensland.
“We introduced tough measures to target criminal gangs and shut down their distribution of dangerous drugs and introduced stronger penalties for offenders.
“Also we were working with the Federal Government to provide additional addiction treatment services.
Ms Simpson said that instead of tackling the drugs issue, the Palaszczuk Labor Government recently passed laws that wound back the LNP’s tough on crime approach and significantly weakened Queensland's ability to target organised crime and gangs.
“Thanks to this Palaszscuk Labor Government’s soft on crime approach, Queensland is seeing criminal bikie gangs re-emerging, crime rates rising and reports of more dangerous drugs on the streets,” Ms Simpson said.
Ms Simpson said that the LNP has released a policy which seeks to crackdown further on drug crimes. The plan includes:
1. Dob in a dealer: $1million to encourage the community to report information to Crime Stoppers Queensland.
2. Keeping criminal bikie clubhouses closed: only the LNP has a proven track record of closing down criminal bikie gang clubhouses.
3. Delivering better drug addiction services: working with the Federal Government to deliver
additional treatment services.
4. Law enforcement co-operations: ensuring our state and commonwealth law enforcement
agencies work together and tackle ice supply and distribution across Queensland.
5. Increased prevention: through community awareness programs and targeting high-risk
Queenslanders.
