Ministerial Statement

Crystal Methamphetamine Task Force

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS (Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety) (14:24): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement regarding a crystal methamphetamine task force.

Leave granted.

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: Earlier this afternoon, the state government announced the appointment of a special task force to respond to the growing use of crystal methamphetamine (ice) in South Australia. Evidence indicates that ice use in South Australia has tripled in the past four years, with the latest wastewater testing showing 400 doses per week per 1,000 South Australians. The recent Australian Criminal Intelligence Illicit Drug Report shows that nationally the price of ice is dropping and it is becoming more accessible. South Australia reported a 478 per cent increase in weight of drugs seized from 2013-14 to 2014-15, the greatest increase of any state or territory.

Methamphetamine related apprehensions by SAPOL almost doubled between 2009-10 and 2013-14, and the number of drivers testing positive for the drug nearly quadrupled over the same period. Ice is an insidious drug that attacks the central nervous system and is highly addictive. It poses far-reaching community safety and social consequences to the South Australian community. Ice users become addicted quickly to the drug and its use is associated with serious health conditions, including memory loss, aggression, psychotic behaviour and brain damage.

The effects on users are more extreme than any other street-level drug, with the dangers felt across the system, from law enforcement to health and child protection. The severity of impact calls for a different response to what has been successful in combating other illicit drugs. To do this, the government has established a crystal methamphetamine (ice) task force, which I will chair, with the support of my colleague in the other place, the Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, the Hon. Leesa Vlahos MP.

Other members of the task force include SAPOL Assistant Commissioner, Ms Linda Fellows, retired judge of the District Court of South Australia, Mr Alan Moss, and senior representatives from Drug and Alcohol Services South Australia. The task force will conduct a 60-day community engagement and consider legislative changes to stymie the supply of drugs, prevention and treatment pathways for those affected, and increase community education on the dangers. The task force will also undertake a number of community engagements, both in the regional and metro areas, to give local community members who are grappling with the effects of ice the opportunity to be part of the solution.

The knowledge and experience of the experts within the task force, combined with community input, will result in a response that will see us begin to make headway in countering this epidemic. The task force will present their response to the Premier by the beginning of May to be considered ahead of the state budget.