CEO and former NSW Deputy Premier Carmel Tebbutt has been announced as Co-Chair of the 2024 NSW Drug Summit. Carmel, along with former NSW Leader of the Opposition John Brogden, will lead this crucial initiative building effective responses to drug-related harms across the state that will ultimately save lives.
“They both bring experience of being in public office and working with communities to find solutions to complex issues.” Said Minister for Health Ryan Park. On her appointment, Carmel said “I look forward to bringing together diverse perspectives to develop compassionate and evidence-based actions.”
The Drug Summit will welcome medical experts, police, people with lived and living experience, drug user organisations, service providers, families, and other stakeholders to provide a range of perspectives and build consensus on the way NSW deals with drug use and harms.
Carmel has a wealth of experience in the health sector and attended the first Drug Summit in 1999. On the first Summit’s impact, Carmel said “Twenty-four years ago, I participated in the first Drug Summit, which saw important improvements to drug treatment services and policy.”
The 1999 NSW Drug Summit was a significant turning point in drug and alcohol policy including the establishment of the first medically supervised injecting facility in Kings Cross.
“While much has changed since then, we know illicit drug use still causes significant harm to individuals, families and communities.” said Carmel.
Odyssey House NSW looks forward to supporting the outcomes of the summit as part of its ongoing commitment to reducing the harms of alcohol and drug use and improving community wellbeing. The summit will include two regional hearings, beginning in Griffith on 1 November and heading to Lismore on 4 November. There will be two days of forums in Sydney in early December.
