Boost for focus on bikie gangs

The Coalition has ­allocated $337m over five years for its National Drug Strategy, which aims to crack down on bikie gangs.

The Morrison government has ­allocated $337 million over five years for its National Drug Strategy, which aims to crack down on bikie gangs and limit the number of Australians taking dangerous substances such as ice.

Funding for the AFP has been bolstered by $122.7m over four years for its role in the initiative, which began in 2017.

The AFP will use the funds to intercept drugs headed for Australia and to crack down on dealers, including bikie gangs.

There is nearly $5m for the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission to monitor drug particles that end up in the nation’s sewers, enhancing data that will show authorities high-use areas.

As part of the “whole of government drug strategy”, the Department of Home Affairs tips in $152m over the forward estimates, and the Department of Health spends $153m through its National Ice Action Strategy.

The Health Department also contributes $4.3m to improve family drug support services, and the same amount to raise awareness of problematic opioid use.

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said bikie gangs were the biggest traffickers of drugs such as ice, “which wreak havoc across Australian communities”.

Bush drug treatment services will be bolstered by $9.6m over three years to address worker shortages.