Lack of Great Southern residential drug rehabilitation facility raised again by ex-Nationals WA leader

Former Nationals WA leader Mia Davies has urged the State Government to fund a residential rehabilitation facility in the Great Southern in the next State Budget.

Ms Davies made the comments in State Parliament on Wednesday while supporting Liberal leader Libby Mettam’s motion to condemn the State Government for “failing to stem methamphetamine use in WA”.

The Central Wheatbelt MLA, who will step down at next year’s election, said there was a clear need for the idea, which had “been on the agenda for many years”, with data from 2020 revealing the region had WA’s “most drastic” increase in drug overdose deaths outside of Mandurah.

“If we cannot address the issue by cutting off the product and reducing the amount in the community, we surely need to be making the facilities available to address what comes next, which is that people find themselves in the grip of addiction,” she said.

“I have a strong commitment to seeing that appear on our next election platform going into the next election.

“I do not think that need has diminished, but sadly, I do not think that this Government has identified it as a priority.

On Friday, a State Government spokesman told the Advertiser there was already State-funded support for Great Southern residents facing drug and alcohol related issues through the Great Southern Community Alcohol and Drug Service.

“It is devastating when individuals, families and communities are experiencing harm associated with alcohol and other drug use,” he said.

The spokesman said funding of a future residential service would be guided by the Mental Health Commission’s Agency Commissioning Plan 2023-2030.

Albany MLA Rebecca Stephens said she regularly met with community members “including local drug rehabilitation service providers” and would continue to advocate for the region with ministers.

Nationals South West MLC Louise Kingston said wraparound services for people in crisis “are pivotal” to solving broader problems.

She said it was important communities could access services close to home and that would help shape the Nationals polices ahead of next year’s election.