Cannabis Arrests

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (15:15): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Police questions about the seizures and arrests relating to cannabis use and distribution in South Australia.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD: Figures released by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission revealed that cannabis continues to account for the greatest proportion of illicit drug use in Australia. During 2014-15, there was a record 59,271 cannabis seizures across the nation. Indeed, cannabis arrests have also increased by 9.7 per cent in the 2014-15 period, with 75,105 arrests in that year alone. In South Australia, the number of cannabis seizures increased by 31 per cent on the weight of seizures—that is, the amount actually seized—and also grew by 72.8 per cent from 750 kilograms to 1.3 tonnes.

Statistics show that in South Australia, 85 per cent of drug arrests are related to cannabis which is the highest proportion reported by any state or territory in 2014-15. Cannabis expiation notices accounted for almost 81 per cent of cannabis arrests in South Australia. The substantial proportion of cannabis expiation notices suggests that recreational use of cannabis is prevalent and, according to these statistics, on the rise.

I think most alarmingly perhaps is that cannabis detection rates are also on the rise in those actually driving or operating a motor vehicle at the time that they are detected. The questions are:

1. What is the government strategy in order to curb the consumption, possession and trafficking of cannabis, as according to these figures it is substantially on the rise in South Australia?

2. What additional measures is the government considering adopting in order to reduce the unacceptably high level of those choosing to drive whilst under the influence of cannabis or other illicit substances on our roads?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS (Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety) (15:17): I thank the honourable member for his question and his maintained interest in the important subject of illicit drug use. We know that illicit drug use in our community has substantial and detrimental effects on our community generally, particularly in so many young South Australians, which is particularly tragic. The honourable member is right to point to the fact that there have been some statistics released recently that point to some concerns regarding the volume of drug consumption that is happening within our community.

Recently, the ABS released statistics which revealed some disappointing results in regard to drug consumption. The latest ABS statistics also highlighted that, while nationally the number of offenders regarding illicit drug use or drug trafficking or drug-related offences went up by 2 per cent, South Australia experienced a 4 per cent drop. There are a number of operations that SAPOL have had recently or that are still underway to try to tackle the issue of illicit drug trafficking and drug production and the like which I am happy to refer to.

There are a number about methamphetamines and drugs like ice which SAPOL have been undertaking but since the nature of your question was focused on cannabis I am happy to provide some answers specifically in that context. I think one of the most significant operations that SAPOL has in this respect is Operation Mantle. Operation Mantle's objective is to tackle street level drug use and trafficking. It has resulted in recent figures, I am advised, of 438 arrests; 413 reports; the seizure of 4,053 cannabis plants; 293 kilograms of dried cannabis, amongst other drugs; and over $719,000 in cash—a very successful operation which I am advised remains ongoing. It is an operation that is very much targeting street level drug use and trafficking, which of course cannabis makes up a significant component of.

Operation Deluge was a recent operation conducted across the South Australian, Northern Territory and Western Australian borders, and it disrupted a major cannabis distribution ring. Also, Operation Aedile was an operation that dismantled a suspected cannabis-growing syndicate. These are good efforts on behalf of our police, but it remains an ongoing challenge. SAPOL, of course, works closely with Australian Customs and the Australian Border Force as well as the Australian Federal Police to stop the importation of drugs that are precursors.

Regarding drug driving, as has been discussed previously in this place—and, again, I thank the honourable member for his interest in this particular issue—this is something of particular concern to both myself and the government. Last year something in the order of 24 per cent of people who died on South Australian roads revealed, during the course of their autopsy, drug use or the presence of drugs in their system. That is an astonishing statistic, and one that really jumped out off the page at me: almost one-quarter of road deaths that occurred in South Australia can be attributed to drugs being in the system of the person driving.

That is an alarming statistic to say the least but, on top of that, we have seen recent operations conducted by SAPOL (and I commend them for conducting those operations) detecting substantial numbers of people who have delivered a positive result in respect to drug driving. We know that as a community we have had an enormous degree of success in changing community attitudes and behaviour towards drink driving; we now really need to replicate that effort and replicate that success in respect of drug driving.

That needs a multifaceted approach but, of course, the law itself underpins that approach. We want to make sure that we are giving SAPOL the resources it needs to be able to catch people drug driving. We also need to be able to send a strong message to the community in respect of drug driving, with strong punishment. The law, as it stands, does achieve that, but there is potential room for improvement, and that is why I have already publicly foreshadowed that our government is currently undertaking an analysis to see if there is a way we can improve the law, whether that be through changing the punishment regime that exists, particularly for people who are repeat offenders (and there is large number of repeat offenders with regard to drug driving), but also looking at what we do in terms of conditions before someone can get their licence back.

That piece of work is ongoing, and I am happy to disclose that I have been in active discussions with both SAPOL and DPTI, along with DASA and other people within government who are able to provide feedback, to inform a review of that approach. Once that process is complete I will be happy to share that information with the government.

It remains an ongoing piece of work. I would probably have liked it to have been completed earlier, if I am honest about it, but it is something I continue to ask questions about. Only this morning I spoke with the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure about where that effort is at, and I very much look forward to being able to share the information publicly as it comes to hand.