Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta has welcomed a further one million dollar funding commitment by the Turnbull Government to continue the national Dob in a Dealer campaign run by Crime Stoppers Australia, benefitting communities across Bonner.

The funding will be provided from assets confiscated as proceeds of crime, meaning the program will be funded by money that was once destined to line the pockets of our most serious criminals.

Mr Vasta said Dob in a Dealer is a call to action to the Bonner community to provide Crime Stoppers with information to assist law enforcement disrupt the import, manufacture and supply of ice and other harmful illicit drugs.

He encouraged local residents to anonymously contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestoppers.com.au to ‘dob in’ people profiting from the use of illicit drugs in our community.

“Drugs such as ice can have a devastating impact on our local communities,” Mr Vasta said.

“The Turnbull Government recognises that police can’t fight this alone, and that our community can play a strong part to undermine any criminal business models operating in our local area.”

The last Dob in a Dealer campaign, which ran between February 2016 and March 2017, saw an average national increase of 95 per cent in drug-related information reports, including an increase of 143 per cent in the number of amphetamine-related reports from the public.

During 2016 in Queensland, Crime Stoppers received more than 17,000 drug-related information reports, including more than 5200 amphetamine-related reports. This led to more than 600 arrests and the seizure of more than $1 million worth of drugs.

The Turnbull Government is absolutely committed to tackling the scourge of ice and other drugs impacting our local communities.

Dob in a Dealer builds on the work this Government is already doing to address the impact of drug and alcohol misuse in our communities through an investment of more than $685 million over four years, and the establishment of the National Ice Taskforce.

In contrast, the Labor Government raided the accounts of our law enforcement agencies to prop up their budget bottom line. At the last election, Labor committed just $32 million to tackle ice and illicit drug use.