Tania Maxwell MP says she’d continue to work from the cross bench with the next state government to see a drug court established in Mildura.
The Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party Member for Northern Victoria said a Parliamentary Budget Office costing recently prepared at her request showed the court would cost $15 million to develop and $2m a year to run.
“The costs amount to a significant commitment of taxpayer dollars,” Ms Maxwell said in Mildura today.
“But there’s clear evidence that drugs courts work in communities where there are robust alcohol and other drugs (AOD) services.
“There were 372 drug-related offence in Mildura in the year to June 30.
“Wastewater analysis confirms that consumption of most drugs is higher per capita in regional communities, including Mildura.
“A Victoria Police survey in September 2022 also confirmed Mildura residents’ top crime concerns included home burglaries and drug trafficking.
“It’s well-established that problematic drug and alcohol use contributes to crime, including family violence, property offences, criminal damage and assaults.
“Drug courts work when combined with sufficient AOD services.
“The current government has already committed $36m for a 30-bed residential detox and rehabilitation centre in Mildura.
“A commitment for a drug court is the next step, but this government is a ‘big supporter’, as Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes told me in Parliament in October last year.
“Ms Symes said evaluations in 2005 and 2014 showed a drug court could deliver a cost-benefit community dividend of 5:1, a 32 per cent reduction in local unemployment, a 70pc reduction in prison days required and a 21pc reduction in re-offending.”
Ms Maxwell said the combination of coercion, collaboration and supervision underpinned the success of drug courts operating in a community with comprehensive AOD services.
“The benefits are clear when you consider the costs of court supervised AOD rehabilitation, at $26,000 per person, compared with an imprisonment cost of $197,000 for a two-year term.
“I’ll be working hard to convince the next government about the benefits of the next step.”
BACKGROUND
Cost to establish a drug court
- The Parliamentary Budget Office estimates $15 million to establish the drug court and $2 million each year in operational funding.
- The government could consider operating the court three day a week, expanding this in the future to meet demand
Background to drug courts
- The first drug court was established in Miami, Florida in 1989. There are more than 2700 drug courts in the USA.
- The first drug courts were established in Australia in Perth (WA) and Parramatta (NSW) in 1999.
- The Drug Court of Victoria was established in 2002, and now hears cases in Melbourne, Dandenong, Ballarat, Shepparton, and a trial County Court Drug and Alcohol Court.
What drug courts provide
- A drug treatment order in lieu of a prison sentence
- Case managers and project officers, who oversee programs and supervise progress of participants
- Clinical advisers who develop tailored treatment plans
- VicPol representative ensuring candidates on a DTO are appropriate and comply
- Legal Aid to protect the participant’s legal rights while encouraging participation
- Housing officers and links to support services, such as pharmacotherapy, mental health services, GPs, dentistry
Who is eligible?
- Someone living in a gazetted postcode
- Pleaded guilty
- Is facing an immediate prison term of up to two years
- Is dependent on drugs/alcohol
- Is not facing sexual offence charges, or subject to a parole or sentencing order
