Federal Member for Hume Angus Taylor has welcomed $1 million in funding to Crime Stoppers for a national ‘Dob in a Dealer’ campaign to help fight Australia’s ice problem.

“Ice is an extremely dangerous drug. Regional communities are still coming to terms with the magnitude of the issue and I know a number of community forums are being held to educate the public and implement local action plans,” Mr Taylor said.

Mr Taylor said the Dob in a Dealer Crime Stoppers campaign was part of a national strategy to fight the spread of the drug. Any instances of crime or suspicious behaviour can be reported to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

He said a series of television ads commissioned by the Federal Department of Health was also raising awareness about the impacts of ice.

“The ads have just started up again recently and a survey of viewers who have seen them has shown 94 per cent took some ‘action’ as a result – they either spoke to their parents or peers, or changed their thinking about ice. The ads have been very effective in cutting through to young people and their families.”

Mr Taylor said the Government’s National Ice Taskforce had identified six areas to guide work toward the development of the National Ice Action Strategy which included:

- focusing law enforcement actions

- targeting primary prevention

- improving access to early intervention, treatment and support services;

- supporting local communities to respond;

- improving tools for frontline workers; and

- improving and consolidating research and data.

“Locally, I am keen to work with police and community groups to tackle the problem in a coordinated way. In our local communities we are far from immune to this problem,” Mr Taylor said.