Malcolm Turnbull pledges $300 million funding for drug treatment services in Australia

By Eamonn Duff

Almost $300 million will be invested in the drug treatment sector as part of a new national plan that shifts focus from policing to prevention.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will unveil the federal government's National Ice Taskforce report on Sunday, rolling out a four-year strategy of improved treatment, aftercare, education, prevention, support and community engagement to tackle the crystal meth issue.

The new prevention focus marks a significant shift away from the hardline law-and-order strategy that has long failed to stifle supply.

The minister responsible for drug and alcohol policy, Fiona Nash, said that after "significant investment" in policing borders and streets to combat ice supply, work was needed to "reduce demand" for the drug.

In April last year, former Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced a new taskforce which, headed by former former Victoria Police commissioner Ken Lay, united state and territory authorities in the ice strategy.

The response is a $241 million "boost" to the alcohol and drug treatment sector, with funding to be managed by the 31 Primary Health Networks set up by the Abbott government last year.

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