Media release: Substance abuse inquiry re-adopted, 17 May 2002

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Family and Community Affairs is to resume its inquiry into substance abuse in Australian communities.

The inquiry started in March 2000 and issued a discussion paper in September 2001.

The inquiry has been readopted, at the request on the new Minister for Health, Senator Patterson, with the intent of publishing a final report, with recommendations, by the end of 2002.

The new Chair of the House Family and Community Affairs Committee, Mrs Kay Hull MP, said the committee would build on the work already done by the previous committee.

"We will review the valuable work completed by the previous committee and detailed in its discussion paper, Where to next?," Mrs Hull said.

"We will then call for final community input to assist us with reaching conclusions and developing recommendations. To this end, we are planning a public seminar to be held in August this year."

The inquiry is examining the social and economic costs of the abuse of both legal and illicit substances.

TERMS OF REFERENCE

At the request of the Minister for Health and Ageing, the committee is to report and recommend on: The social and economic costs of substance abuse, with particular regard to:

• family relationships;
• crime, violence (including domestic violence), and law enforcement;
• road trauma;
• workplace safety and productivity; and
• health care costs.

For media comment, please contact:
Mrs Kay Hull, MP (Chair), Tel. 0428 211 591 or (02) 6921 4600 (electorate)

For further details, contact:

Committee Secretariat

The discussion paper, Where to next?, is available at the committee's website at www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/fca/.

Additional information about the inquiry will be posted on the website as it becomes available.

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