By Tammy Mills
A government panel has made more than 50 recommendations to help tackle Victoria's methamphetamine epidemic, including expansion of the drug court, and a police operation to stem supply of the drug from south-east Asia.
The law reform, drugs and crime prevention committee's 900-page report - the result of the bipartisan inquiry's year-long consultation - was tabled in Parliament on Wednesday morning.
Headed by Western Victoria MP Simon Ramsay, the committee's 54 recommendations include:
- A "harmonisation" of unexplained wealth laws across Australia to target organised crime groups.
- Laws to allow for the declaration of "drug transit zones" to assist with cross-border detection and seizure of illicit drugs on interstate roads.
- An expansion of the drug court, which is now only servicing the Dandenong area.
- Harm reduction programs and facilities, particularly in regional areas, including withdrawal beds, better access to residential beds and well-resourced outpatient facilities.
- "Innovative" programs and resources for schools and young people to support those at risk of exposure to drug use.
- Action to deal with online drug trading.
- An Australian Crime Commission-led special operation focusing on south-east Asia.
The report draws from 78 submissions, 113 public hearings and 220 witnesses who gave evidence across the state.
"Our report recognises that we must attack this problem from every angle," Mr Ramsay said.
"We must make every effort to save lives, reduce use and target those who benefit from this ugly trade."
The report found organised crime groups are behind the distribution of ice, including traditional crime groups such as the Mafia or Asian triads, as well as Middle Eastern, eastern European, west African and south-east Asian groups.
It found that while outlaw motorcycle gangs are suspected of being involved, this was "difficult to establish". However, Victoria Police data showed there was 111 amphetamine-related offences against outlaw members between 2010 and 2013.
The report found that young men aged 20-29 are the most frequent users of ice and while the use of the drug has not increased in the general population, there has been a significant shift towards a more potent version.
It also found "concerning" increases in the number of ice-related ambulance call-outs, a rise in the number of ice-affected people presenting to emergency departments, and a rise in the number of ice-related deaths through unintentional poisoning, suicide and road crashes.
The inquiry found while two per cent of Australia's population uses ice, use has jumped sharply from 17 per cent to 43 per cent during the last six years.
In metropolitan Melbourne, ambulance call-outs have increased by 88 per cent and in regional Victoria, 200 per cent.
The report also highlighted the grave concerns of the family of ice users; they are "at loss to know how to handle the situation".
The inquiry heard evidence of family breakdown, financial strain and loss of assets.
The government is required to respond within six months.
"Given the current circumstances we'll be rolling out our response much sooner than that," Premier Denis Napthine said.
"The government takes this report very, very seriously. We would welcome the recommendations and we'll consider each and every one of them."
He promised "significant" developments in dealing with the report, in addition to the extra drug detection dogs and more drug driver testing he announced on Monday. He said $100,000 a year would be funnelled into two Victorian organisations to assess and track the problem yearly.
Shadow Minister for Police and Emergency Services Wade Noonan said Labor has already announced its first steps of an ice intervention policy including $15 million for new drug and booze buses and $500,000 to set up community action groups in regional Victoria.
"The ice epidemic is devastating our communities and Labor will work with police, experts and the community to find a solution," Mr Noonan said.
"Labor's ice intervention will introduce new offences, support the community and listen to the experts, but we also need to end the youth unemployment crisis and get young people back on track."
Mr Ramsay said a Premier-led ministerial council should first be established. He said the council would be based on the model in New Zealand, which has led to a 50 per cent decrease in use in a country that had the highest per capita rate of use in the world.
He said this was achieved through community action plans.