Day one of the state government's drug summit gets underway tomorrow but not everyone's been invited. Local groups in Griffith say they've been left out despite the forum being held in their city. The premier has apologised for the lack of local involvement but insists the summit will still hear from a variety of experts.
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00:00It's a chance to address the issues these services confront daily.
00:06But that opportunity feels just out of reach.
00:10I think it's really disappointing to be left out as an agency that does work with a whole
00:16range of people in the community.
00:18The state's drug summit will kick off in Griffith on Friday without the input of some key local
00:24organisations.
00:25One of my concerns is that whoever's running the summit isn't going to get an entire picture
00:30if not all stakeholders are at that table.
00:33I apologise for it, there's probably not much I can do about it.
00:37We do have the experts in the room to provide the best information and also evidence that
00:42will challenge government policy.
00:43Over the course of the four days we will have over 500 people, 500 people engaging directly
00:49with legislators.
00:51Many organisations in Griffith, including major medical centres and social services
00:56groups, say they weren't aware of the drug summit until they were contacted by the ABC.
01:01They don't really understand what happens here.
01:03It's very difficult for someone to get help immediately when they come to us and to other
01:09services needing help with drug and alcohol matters.
01:14Being excluded just feels like we're coming out, we've kicked the box to say we're coming
01:20to Griffith but we're just going to do it quietly and then head off.
01:22The government insists it's not trying to lock anyone out.
01:26There is always the opportunity, you can go to the have your say section.
01:30I just want to see some real action, I don't want to see a talk fest, acknowledgement of
01:34the issue and then they leave the area and we don't get anything out of it.
01:37A town that wants its voice heard.