Melbourne, VIC, 23rd March, 2011 – UnitingCare Moreland Hall, one of Victoria’s leading alcohol and other drugs agencies, urged the Baillieu Government to exercise caution in addressing the issue of drug dealing on Melbourne’s public housing estates: http://bit.ly/theagepublichousingloophole, http://bit.ly/heraldsunevictions.

Moreland Hall CEO, Laurence Alvis said:

While public safety needs to remain a priority, it is important to ensure that individuals who are not involved in commercial dealing are not disproportionately punished for minor indiscretions. Removing commercial dealers (and their links to organised crime) from public housing is a worthy goal that would, no doubt, be applauded by estate residents. However, it is common practice amongst individual alcohol and other drug users to share their drugs or use them as a barter item for food, accommodation or other basic items. We would be concerned if these sorts of practices were to put individuals at risk of eviction under the proposed new measure.

Ultimately, as with any legislative change, the real test will be in its administration. We would recommend that the Baillieu Government carefully consider the potential for this initiative to create unwarranted hardship amongst individual users. This initiative needs to be carefully targeted in order to achieve it’s stated objective.

ENDS

For further information or comment please contact Chief Executive Officer Laurence Alvis on 9384 8880

Background about Moreland Hall: UnitingCare Moreland Hall is an Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) treatment and education agency of the Uniting Church in Australia. Moreland Hall has been operating since 1970 and provides a range of treatment and education services to clients in the North West Metropolitan region of Melbourne. These include counselling and support in the community and at Port Phillip prison, adult and youth home-based and residential withdrawal, education and training, drug diversion programs, supported accommodation and youth and family service.