Recriminalising Methamphetamines

At the same time, wastewater data shows methamphetamine use in Canberra has surged towards record highs. Meth is not just another drug. Meth destroys lives. It fuels violence, intimidation, theft and family breakdown. It places enormous pressure on police, paramedics, emergency departments, mental health workers, outreach services and families who are left to pick up the pieces, long after the headlines have moved on.

It is why a Parton Liberal government will re-criminalise methamphetamine. It is not because we have given up on people trapped in addiction; it is quite the opposite. We will re-criminalise meth because we refuse to pretend that a drug causing serious harm in our community should be treated as just another minor infringement. The Labor-Greens experiment with the decriminalisation of meth has failed. It has failed families dealing with drug-fuelled violence, theft and intimidation. It has failed frontline police and small businesses left to manage the consequences. Most importantly, it has failed the people trapped in addiction, because a $100 fine is not treatment, rehabilitation or recovery.

We will take a different approach. We will restore consequences for meth possession and use, because community safety matters. We will also strengthen the pathways into rehabilitation, outreach, mental health support and treatment, because recovery matters, too.

The Canberra Liberals will establish dedicated graffiti blitz teams to target Civic public and private buildings that face onto public spaces. We will work with businesses, property owners, community groups and volunteers, including organisations like Graffiti Busters, to provide the supplies, the safety equipment, the training and the coordination needed to clean up our city. This is not just about removing paint; it is about sending a message that Canberra is cared for, that people are being heard and that, under a Parton Liberal government, we will restore pride, order and confidence in our city.