Media release

Top police, health and drug officials agree on priorities

Recently the Commissioners Drug Committee (CDC), the Australian National Council on Drugs (ANCD) Executive and the Intergovernmental Committee on Drugs (IGCD) Executive met in Adelaide to discuss some of the key drug and alcohol issues facing the nation.

The Police Commissioners group, which included SA Police Commissioner Mal Hyde, AFP Commissioner Mick Keelty, and NT Police Commissioner Paul White met with Professor Margaret Hamilton and Mr Garth Popple from the ANCD, as well as senior Federal, State and Territory government officials to discuss areas of future priority action for Australia.

The meeting reaffirmed the importance of Australia’s National Drug Strategy and its commitment to a partnership approach between police and health officials in addressing drug and alcohol problems affecting the community.

There was consensus on a number of priority actions, particularly in regard to reducing risk behaviours, providing assistance for at-risk groups and introducing preventative interventions.

As a result, the 3 groups agreed to continue to meet regularly and progress plans on working together to address 5 critical issues facing Australia today and in the future:

Public intoxication and anti-social behaviour as a result of alcohol consumption
Problems created by an increasing use of amphetamines

The need to inform, educate and provide a positive environment for young people
Working closer with Indigenous Australians

Further improving the national initiative to divert drug users from the criminal justice system into the drug and alcohol treatment system

The 3 groups also took the opportunity to welcome the Prime Minister’s recent appointment of Dr John Herron as the Chair of the ANCD, and were greatly looking forward to working with him on drug and alcohol issues in the near future.

28 February 2006

The ANCD is the principal advisory body to Government on drug and alcohol issues.

For further information, please contact:

Mr Gino Vumbaca (ANCD Executive Officer)
0408 244 552

Dean Miller (Executive Officer, Australasian Centre for Policing Research)
0437 232472

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