Politics & Council

5 April, 2026

Broad concerns over ‘rural drug devastation’

THE State Government must urgently act to reduce the devastation caused by drugs in regional communities, Northern Victoria MP Gaelle Broad has told Parliament.

Ms Broad said widespread drug use was contributing to rising crime, road trauma and family violence as well as increasing pressure on hospitals and ambulance services.

She said mental health services were either stretched to the limit or non-existent in many regional areas.

Ms Broad said the personal stories of harm from drugs were devastating. “Recently I spoke with a grandmother in a small regional town in my electorate. Police attended her home because of threats of violence from her own grandson under the influence of drugs.”

Ms Broad said she wanted action to “reduce drug harm, especially in regional communities, where support services are few and far between”.

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