A MOTION put forward by Leeton Shire Council to provide better awareness and education on the dangers of ice was unanimously supported at a recent national conference.
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Mayor Paul Maytom and deputy mayor George Weston attended the National General Assembly of Local Government national conference last month where the motion was put forward.
Councillor Maytom the motion was given wide support on the back of the federal government’s decision to create a National Ice Taskforce.
“This is a national issue and it needs to be treated as such,” Cr Maytom said.
“It’s important people are discussing this issue and the negative impact it is having on communities across the country.
“We need to work together to have a campaign that focuses on awareness and education.”
As a result of the motion it is hoped a campaign will be put together similar to the one that targets those that smoke.
“It needs to be as big as that to reach as many people as possible,” Cr Maytom said.
“We need to work on finding out why people are taking ice and why they feel it’s something that need to turn to in the first place.
“This drug is not just impacting on their lives, but their families and those around them.
“It is a real scourge on society and something has to be done.”
As part of the taskforce, the federal government is working with states and territories to develop a National Ice Action Strategy to tackle the growing use of the drug.
Of detected illicit drug imports to Australia, ice has grown from five per cent in 2011 to 59 per cent in 2014.
More than 60 per cent of Australia’s most significant organised criminal groups are involved in the methylamphetamine market and one in 14 Australians have tried ice.
Cr Maytom said the statistics were worrying, which was one of the reasons it was important for the campaign to begin as quickly as possible.
“This is such a terrible drug that is having such a negative impact on our society,” Cr Maytom said.
“If we can raise awareness like what was done with smoking then hopefully it is a battle that can be won.
“We know the smoking campaign has been effective in that clearly there are not as many people that smoke today compared to 20 years or so.
“I’m pleased our motion was given support.
“It means we can all work together.
“As a community there are things we can be doing at a local level as well.
“We have many organisations already working together on this issue.
“However, there’s only so much we can doing.
“It needs to be a ‘whole’ approach.”
