Wednesday, 6 April 2022

Alcohol and other drug services

Ms LOVELL (Northern Victoria) (17:31:241:): (1870) My adjournment matter is directed to the Minister for Mental Health and addresses the need for alcohol and drug rehabilitation centres to be established in Shepparton and Mildura, and the action that I seek is for the minister to ensure that there is funding in the 2022–23 state budget to establish residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation centres in Shepparton and Mildura to provide the vital services that Victorians suffering from addiction in these areas need.

Unless we are extremely lucky, every member in this place, indeed every corner of Victorian society, has been impacted by the scourge that is alcohol and drug addiction. Nearly every family in every Victorian community has been touched in some way by the evil of addiction and the devastation it causes. Eventually the life of an addict is one of utter chaos, with every minute of every day fixated on their next score, only finding short-lived peace when doing so. Addiction is a devastating illness that can be managed but never cured, and sufferers should never be derided; rather, they need love and support and most importantly professional help to aid their recovery.

The Andrews Labor government has failed to establish adequate rehabilitation facilities in country Victoria needed to address the epidemic that is ravaging country communities. Infrastructure Victoria recognised this fact in its Victoria’s Infrastructure Strategy 2021–2051 document, with recommendation 91 to the Victorian government being:

Within five years, build residential detoxification and rehabilitation facilities in regional Victoria to provide equitable access to alcohol and other drug treatment.

The strategy goes on to mention several regions in most need of rehabilitation facilities, including both the Goulburn region, encompassing Shepparton and the Goulburn Valley, and the Mallee region, which includes Mildura and the Sunraysia area.

Both Shepparton and Mildura are in urgent need of residential rehabilitation centres at each location, with patients having to travel long distances away from the support of family and friends to access these services at the moment. Private facilities are very expensive, and the cost of such treatment is out of the financial reach of patients and their families. The upcoming state budget is the perfect opportunity for the minister to commit funding to build residential rehabilitation centres in both Shepparton and Mildura and deliver the help local people suffering from addiction desperately need.