The Regional Health Minister Ryan Park has confirmed Lismore will be the site of one of the NSW Government’s two Drug Summit regional forums on Monday, 4 November.
The regional forums will ensure the unique experiences of people in regional NSW are reflected in the deliberations of the summit.
The Drug Summit will bring together medical experts, police, people with lived and living experience, drug user organisations, families, service providers and other stakeholders to provide a range of perspectives and build consensus on the way NSW deals with drug use and harms.
Minister Park has also announced the NSW Government has appointed former NSW Deputy Premier Carmel Tebbutt and former NSW Leader of the Opposition, John Brogden as Co-Chairs of the upcoming NSW Drug Summit.
The Co-Chairs will work with attendees to develop and prioritise solutions that aim to improve the health and wellbeing of the community and address other important issues including:
- Equity, respect and inclusion
- Safety and justice
- Keeping people safe
- Integrated care and social support
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Ryan Park:
“Taking the summit to regional areas like Lismore is integral because we know that drug use impacts communities in many different ways.
“It is really important to me that the unique experiences of places like Lismore when it comes to illicit drug use are reflected in the summit.
“As always, Janelle has been a strong advocate for her community to host this forum.
“She held her own forum around the time of the first summit and it’s very fitting that we can return to hear from her community in 2024.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin:
“I am so pleased that Lismore will be hosting one of the two regional forums of the Drug Summit.
“We have our own unique challenges when it comes to this issue, and I am determined that Lismore’s voice is heard in this statewide conversation.”
“Of course it will be the voice of the Lismore Electorate residents and the broader region.
“In 1999 I took part in the successful Drug Summit convened by the then Premier Bob Carr and Deputy Premier Dr. Andrew Refshauge.
“Before that summit I organised and hosted a local community Drugs Summit at the Lismore Workers Club. It too was successful, and I was able to take forward the many views, some coalesced, some contrary, but I was able to take the local voices forward.”
