A Hunter advocate for alcohol harm reduction says the government should not ignore the harmful effects of alcohol on our community.
The NSW Government has announced an Inquiry into ice (crystal methamphetamine) in a bid to reduce the impacts it is having on Australian cities and regional communities.
The Special Commission of Inquiry will look into the nature, prevalence and impact of ice in NSW, existing measures in place, and ways to strengthen the state's response to ice.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced the report saying the drug is destructive and its impacts need to be tackled.
"We want every option on the table to bolster our existing efforts to combat the evolving threat of this dangerous, illegal drug - and to get help for those who need it," Ms Berejiklian said.
The Inquiry will draw upon information from drug policy, law enforcement, education and health experts.
The announcement comes at the same time politicians discuss the future of Sydney's lockout laws in a bill at State Parliament today.
Protesters gathered outside Macquarie Street ahead of the debate over scrapping the controversial laws.
The Hunter's Tony Brown says the inquiry is important but the government needs to take action instead, similar to its alcohol reduction policies.
"There's been a number of federal and state inquiries into the impact of ice use on society and I think it's about time the government started introducing action rather than more talk," Mr Brown said.
"Newcastle has led Australia and the world in reducing non-domestic street assault and we know that by small increases in prices, a modest reduction in trading hours and stopping the saturated promotion of alcohol that these simple measures have the biggest effect in reducing the costly harms."
In a tweet, Mr Brown said approximately 40 per cent of domestic violence assaults are alcohol-related along with nearly 50 per cent of drownings.
He says the government diverting attention to the impacts of illicit drugs is problematic.
