At least $36 million has been promised to boost alcohol and drug rehabilitation beds, with those in power stopping short of matching the commitment.
The Victorian Liberals this week unveiled a plan to fund at least 180 new alcohol or other drug rehabilitation and withdrawal beds at centres in the Latrobe Valley, Mildura, Shepparton, Warrnambool, Frankston and Melbourne.
"I could tell you pretty much every drug house in Warrnambool 10 years ago when I was doing that, and there wasn't a place or suburb that didn't have a house where you get [drug] deals done," she said.Ms Britnell said the need for the centres remained dire a decade on, with south-west residents currently forced to travel at least two hours to either Geelong, Bendigo or Melbourne to access residential rehabilitation.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews tempered the Opposition announcement, instead pointing to the Coalition's track-record while in office.But Mr Andrews stopped short of matching the promise. Association executive officer Sam Biondo said demand for such beds was also increasing, with waitlists surging more than 70 per cent between September 2020 and December 2021.
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