Tuesday, 1 April 2025

Prahran electorate

Rachel WESTAWAY (Prahran) (15:01): (1074) My question is to the minister representing the Minister for Mental Health. When will the minister properly fund drug rehabilitation facilities, including outreach services, to deal with the enormous drug problems plaguing my local area? In Chapel Street and surrounding areas like Prahran Square illicit drug use is ongoing and confronting. Users blatantly inject drugs in public, drug dealers openly ply their trade up and down the street and overdoses are common and stretch the resources of our overworked paramedics. These people need treatment to help them kick their addictions. Just as importantly, local residents, traders, shoppers and tourists need some respite from this ongoing nightmare in our area, with used syringes littering the streets. Properly funded drug rehabilitation services would assist addicts and help return Chapel Street to its former glory as Melbourne’s premier shopping and entertainment strip.