FDS Insight Newsletter Oct-Dec 2020

4 Response to appointment as FDS CEO ony Trimingham will be continuing his vital role as Chief Executive Officer for another three years. Tony’s response to the Honourable John Della Bosca letter is as follows: I am very grateful for the confidence and support that John Della Bosca and the Board of FDS have shown in me. Thank you also to the staff and volunteers who I have the privilege of working with. I will continue to build on FDS achievements, continuing our innovative ways of supporting families and ensuring we continue our work well into the future. We know that families want to keep the people they love and care for alive and safe. FDS will continue to raise the focus on the need for increased harm reduction and drug law reform. I also want to take this opportunity to thank the FDS co-founder Sandra Lines for her leadership of the FDS Volunteer Program, I also welcome her continued appointment in this important role for a further three years. Kind regards, Tony Trimingham, OAM, CEO Greens leader, Dr Richard Di Natale’s farewell and thanks to Tony Dear Tony Yesterday I delivered my valedictory speech and I will shortly resign as Greens Senator for Victoria. It has been a pleasure to work with you during my time in this important role, and I wanted to reach out to thank you for your work and dedication. One of the things that has kept me going this last decade is knowing that there are so many passionate and committed people fighting for all of the things I believe in. Thank you. I don’t know what the future holds at this stage, but I plan to take a short break before the next chapter unfolds. Rest assured, I intend to continue to make a contribution after leaving parliamentary politics, and am particularly keen to continue the important work to protect and enhance Australia’s public health system and for a sensible and evidence-based approach to drug policy. Lidia Thorpe will soon take her place in the Senate to replace me, and the Australian Greens will shortly reshuffle positions. I encourage you to continue working with the new health portfolio holder. Thanks again and best wishes, Richard T