Illicit Substance Abuse

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (14:37): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Police a question regarding illicit substance abuse in South Australia.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD: According to the most recent wastewater studies, which the minister has alluded to himself in this place, which was conducted by the University of South Australia, methamphetamine use has increased by some 25 per cent in the past year in South Australia. The figures have doubled since wastewater screening began just five years ago. In particular, ice, like many other illicit substances, is a source of major health problems, often leading to the development of psychosis and can be the cause of uncontrollable violent outbursts in some individuals.

So far, in 2016-17, there have been some 6,245 Code Black incidents in hospitals, compared to just 4,765 at the same time last year. Those under the influence of illicit substances are threatening the health and safety of hospital staff and emergency workers in some cases. My questions for the minister are:

1. Given the sharp increase in Code Black incidents, what is the government's response to this specific problem?

2. Are Code Black incidents reported to SAPOL as a mandatory part of the process and, if so, how does SAPOL respond to these incidents?

3. How many perpetrators has SAPOL apprehended and/or prosecuted for their involvement in such incidents in recent times?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS (Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety) (14:39): Let me thank the Hon. Mr Hood for his questions on a rather alarming topic, to say the least. Let me start with a higher level response that the government has developed in regard to the growing ice concern, or what some people are describing as an epidemic.

I am very glad that recently the Premier of the state announced the establishment of a South Australian government ice task force which he has asked me to chair in conjunction with minister Vlahos and other key agencies around the state, including SAPOL. The aim of the ice task force is to develop a cogent, deliberate state government response to the issue in a way that is reasonably within the control of the state.

We have been realistic from the outset about the establishment of this task force: this is not going to be a response that is going to fix the issue of ice within our community. It is simply a task force aimed at developing some quick responses that are within the control of the state government and implemented quickly—within 60 days—with the view of mitigating the impact that ice is having on our community. Law and order is but one component of the area that we are looking at but nevertheless it is a very important one.

We are really lucky that in South Australia we have one of the best, most well resourced police forces in the nation. We have more sworn police officers per capita than any other state in the country. That is a record that we are seeking to maintain with our record investment back into the police, continuous real increases in the size of the police budget and an additional 313 sworn police officers coming online by the middle of next year.

That work is being maintained and as a result of those resources that SAPOL has at its disposal it is able to conduct a number of operations in and around methamphetamines generally. One of the most significant operations is Operation Atlas which has been successful in apprehending a number of offenders and also looking at not just the distribution of drugs but also their production as well. We know that outlaw motorcycle gangs are involved in the production and distribution of this insidious drug and we have a number of men and women in uniform (and also not in uniform) at the moment within SAPOL working incredibly hard to tackle this challenge.

However, we need to do more because, as the Hon. Mr Hood pointed out, there are a number of key statistics which point to the fact that this problem is getting worse rather than getting better. The Hon. Mr Hood referred to wastewater statistics. We know from those numbers coming through from the analysis that has taken place up to this point—and the analysis that is available is mainly around metropolitan Adelaide—that the numbers are on the rise. We also know anecdotally from regional South Australian areas that there is a problem with the use of crystal methamphetamine. We also know from the statistics that the Hon. Mr Hood referred to in regard to Code Blacks and other incidents that our emergency services are on the front line dealing with this day in and day out.

That is exactly why, through both empirical evidence and anecdotal evidence, the Premier has decided to convene this task force. We are looking at everything. We are not just looking at a law and order response, we are not just looking at resources in respect to SAPOL, we are also looking at treatment and, if there is a need, further legislative change around law and order as well. These are all the options that we will be taking on board and hearing from experts directly about over the course of 60 days.

At the end of that process we will be announcing a policy. Again, we are being realistic about this. The state government is not going to fix the issue of ice within 60 days. What we can do is come up with a response that is appropriate and urgent because of the fact that we have an increasing issue that we need to try to do something about as a community and, indeed, we need to accept responsibility and do something as a government.