Tony Abbott must immediately reverse his harsh Budget cuts to substance misuse funds as waiting lists for illicit drugs treatment services continue to worsen.

More details have emerged this morning of the growing drug-rehab crisis in Australia, with not a single publicly funded residential rehabilitation bed available anywhere in Victoria.

More details have emerged this morning of the growing drug-rehab crisis in Australia, with not a single publicly funded residential rehabilitation bed available anywhere in Victoria.

The situation is so bad that:

• Desperate families intent on getting help for their loved ones are paying private clinics a minimum of $7,000 a month, with some facilities charging a fee as high as $28,000 a month.

• For those pursuing the more expensive private clinics, only 19 beds are available across the whole state.

• Some families are so desperate they are now resorting to expensive overseas-based treatment in countries such as Thailand, an alternative that can still cost thousands per month not including flights.

Since assuming office Labor Premier Daniel Andrews has made ice a high priority and invested $18 million to expand drug treatment and rehabilitation services. But as his Government charges ahead with new investment in treatment Tony Abbott is ripping away funding at the federal level.

The dire reports from Victoria come as ice remains front and centre in the Canning by-election. Labor has pledged $2.7 million in support for local drug treatment services the Palmerston Association and Hope Community Services, a commitment that will extend their funding to 2019.

In contrast, Liberal candidate, Andrew Hastie, and Justice Minister, Michael Kennan, refused to match this funding commitment when pressed on the matter last week. Instead, Mr Hastie only promised to hold further meetings.

Tony Abbott talks big about tackling ice but delivers little when it comes to making a real difference to people trying to kick their addiction.

Workers on the frontline have been abandoned with $800 million ripped from the Health Flexible Funds, which includes funds supporting illicit drug rehabilitation and treatment as well as prevention strategies.

On top of all this, the Assistant Minister for Health, Senator Fiona Nash, caused significant alarm in the sector by only extending contracts to NGO bodies for one year; a decision that was left until the very last minute as the end of the last financial year loomed closer and closer.

This lead to an urgent funding crisis that made it extremely difficult for services to plan for the future, retain staff and make strategic decisions about how to best do their job.

Communities in Canning and across Australia want the services available to help them get on top of ice addiction but they have been abandoned by this hypocritical Government.

MONDAY, 7 SEPTEMBER 2015