Chapter 1 - Introduction

[1]        Dr Alex Wodak, Australian Drug Law Reform Foundation (ADLRF), Committee Hansard, 29 July 2015, p. 48.

[2]        Dr Wodak, ADLRF, Committee Hansard, 29 July 2015, p. 48.

[3]        Dr Wodak, ADLRF, Committee Hansard, 29 July 2015, p. 49.

[4]        United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, answers to questions on notice, 11 April 2016 (received 24 March 2016), p. 2.

[5]        Professor Nadine Ezard, St Vincent's Hospital, Committee Hansard, 29 July 2015, p. 73.

[6]        The Honourable Ms Sheila McHale, Palmerston Association, Committee Hansard, 3 May 2017, p. 13.

[7]        Ms McHale, Palmerston Association, Committee Hansard, 3 May 2017, p. 17.

[8]        Mr William Bush, Families and Friends for Drug Law Reform, Committee Hansard, 25 November 2015, p. 4.

[9]        Mr Bush, Families and Friends for Drug Law Reform, Committee Hansard, 25 November 2015, p. 4.

[10]      Professor Rebecca McKetin, Committee Hansard, 9 September 2015, p. 13.

[11]      Mr Mick Palmer, Committee Hansard, 12 August 2015, p. 2. 

Chapter 2 - Overview of crystal methamphetamine and its use in Australia

[1]        According to the Illicit Drug Data Report 2014–15, there are four common forms of methamphetamine. They are: tablet, crystal (ice), base (referred to as 'paste') and powder (referred to as 'speed'). See, Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC), Illicit Drug Data Report 2014–15, 4 August 2016, p. 24.

[2]        ACIC, Illicit Drug Data Report 2014–15, 4 August 2016, p. 23.

[3]        ACIC, Illicit Drug Data Report 2014–15, 4 August 2016, p. 23.

[4]        The National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NDSHS) is a triennial population survey that provides data on the use of alcohol and other drugs in Australia. Due to the survey being a household survey, it omits institutionalised people and people not living in private dwellings.

[5]        Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NDSHS) 2016 Key findings (NDSHS 2016 Key findings), http://www.aihw.gov.au/alcohol-and-other-drugs/data-sources/ndshs-2016/key-findings/ (accessed 3 July 2017).

[6]        The 2016 survey was conducted from 18 June 2016 to 29 November 2016.

[7]        AIHW, Submission 6, p. 7.

[8]        AIHW, NDSHS 2016 Key findings, http://www.aihw.gov.au/alcohol-and-other-drugs/data-sources/ndshs-2016/key-findings/ (accessed 3 July 2017).

[9]        For non-medical purposes.

[10]      AIHW, NDSHS 2016 Illicit use of drugs, http://www.aihw.gov.au/alcohol-and-other-drugs/data-sources/ndshs-2016/illicit-drug-use/ (accessed 3 July 2017).

[11]      AIHW, NDSHS 2016 Key findings table, http://www.aihw.gov.au/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=60129559847 (accessed 3 July 2017).

[12]      AIHW, NDSHS 2016 Key findings table, http://www.aihw.gov.au/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=60129559847 (accessed 3 July 2017).

[13]      AIHW, NDSHS 2016 Key findings table, http://www.aihw.gov.au/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=60129559847 (accessed 3 July 2017).

[14]      AIHW, NDSHS 2016 Key findings table, http://www.aihw.gov.au/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=60129559847 (accessed 3 July 2017).

[15]      AIHW, NDSHS 2016 Key findings table, http://www.aihw.gov.au/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=60129559847 (accessed 3 July 2017).

[16]      AIHW, NDSHS 2016 Illicit use of drugs, http://www.aihw.gov.au/alcohol-and-other-drugs/data-sources/ndshs-2016/illicit-drug-use/ (accessed 3 July 2017).

[17]      Professor Rebecca McKetin, Curtin Senior Research Fellow, National Drug Research Institute (NDRI), Curtin University, Committee Hansard, 3 May 2017, p. 34.

[18]      Professor McKetin, Curtin University, Committee Hansard, 3 May 2017, p. 34.

[19]      Professor Steve Allsop, Project Leader, NDRI, Curtin University, Committee Hansard, 3 May 2017, p. 34.

[20]      Professor McKetin, Curtin University, Committee Hansard, 9 September 2015, p. 11.

[21]      Dr Wendy Southern, Deputy Secretary, Department of Health, Committee Hansard, 9 September 2015, p. 18.

[22]      Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC), Drug use monitoring in Australia (DUMA), http://www.aic.gov.au/about_aic/research_programs/nmp/duma.html (accessed 30 March 2017).

[23]      ACIC, Illicit Drug Data Report 2015–16, 30 June 2017, p. 43.

[24]      3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine.

[25]      ACIC, Illicit Drug Data Report 2015–16, 30 June 2017, p. 43.

[26]      National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC), 'Australian Drug Trends 2016: Findings from the Illicit Drug Reporting System', Australian Drug Trends Series No. 146, 2017, p. 1.

[27]      NDARC, 'Australian Drug Trends 2016: Findings from the Illicit Drug Reporting System', Australian Drug Trends Series No. 146, 2017, p. 19.

[28]      NDARC, 'Australian Drug Trends 2016, Findings from the Illicit Drug Reporting System', Australian Drug Trends Series No. 146, 2017, p. 19.

[29]      NDARC, 'Australian Drug Trends 2016: Findings from the Illicit Drug Reporting System', Australian Drug Trends Series No. 146, 2017, p. 21.

[30]      AIHW, Alcohol and other drug treatment National Minimum Data set, http://www.aihw.gov.au/alcohol-and-other-drugs/data-sources/aodts-nmds-2015-16/ (accessed 26 July 2017).

[31]      A closed treatment episode is when a treatment is considered closed because: it has completed or has ceased; there has been no contact with the client for three months; or there is a change in the main treatment type/principal drug of concern/or delivery setting (See AIHW, 'Alcohol and other drug treatments services in Australia 2014–15', Drug Treatment Series No. 27, 2016, p. 12).

[32]      AIHW, 'Alcohol and other drug treatments services in Australia 2014–15', Drug Treatment Series No. 27, 2016, p. 25.

[33]      The AIHW noted a significant increase in the number of treatment episodes from 170 367 in 2014–15 to 206 635 in 2015–16. The increase was largely due to improvements in the reporting following the underreporting of treatment episodes due to a system issue. See AIHW, Clients of alcohol and other drug treatment services, http://www.aihw.gov.au/alcohol-and-other-drugs/data-sources/aodts-nmds-2015-16/clients/ (accessed 26 July 2017).

[34]      AIHW, Clients of alcohol and other drug treatment services 2015–16, http://www.aihw.gov.au/alcohol-and-other-drugs/data/#aodts-cubes (accessed 30 July 2017).

[35]      AIHW, Clients of alcohol and other drug treatment services 2015–16, http://www.aihw.gov.au/alcohol-and-other-drugs/data/#aodts-cubes (accessed 30 July 2017).

[36]      ACIC, National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program, Report 1, March 2017, p. 2.

[37]      Illicit drugs tested are methamphetamine, amphetamine, cocaine, 3,4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), JWH-018, JWH-073, mephedrone and methylone. Cannabis or tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is not tested as part of the wastewater analysis.

The absence of cannabis was questioned by UnitingCare's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr Laurence Alvis and Dr Stephen Bright from the NDRI, see: Mr Laurence Alvis, CEO ReGen and Dr Stephen Bright, Senior Lecturer of Addiction at Edith Cowan University and Research Fellow, NDRI. See also, 'Wastwater drug monitoring: Never let the evidence get in the way of a good story', Media Watch, 6 April 2017, http://aodmediawatch.com.au/wastewater-drug-monitoring-never-let-the-evidence-get-in-the-way-of-a-good-story/ (accessed 27 July 2017).

[38]      Licit drugs include tobacco, alcohol, oxycodone and fentanyl.

[39]      The breakdown of sites by jurisdiction are: New South Wales has 10 sites; Victoria 7 sites; Queensland 12 sites; South Australia 8 sites; Tasmania 7 sites; Western Australia 4 sites; Northern Territory 2 sites and the Australian Capital Territory has one site. 22 sites are capital cities and 29 sites are regional. See, ACIC, National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program, Report 1, March 2017, pp 7, 12.

[40]      The National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program does not specify specific test sites; however, this information is shared confidentially with law enforcement and health agencies.

[41]      ACIC, National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program, Report 1, March 2017, p. 3.

[42]      Tetrahydrocannabinol.

[43]      AIHW, National Drug Strategy Household Survey detailed report 2013, AIHW, p. 49.

[44]      Queensland and South Australia were included in a pilot program and therefore have longitudinal analysis available.

[45]      ACIC, National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program, Report 1, March 2017, p. 3.

[46]      ACIC, National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program, Report 1, March 2017, p. 26.

[47]      The ACIC announced in its second waste water analysis report that heroin will be tested in future analyses. See, ACIC, National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program, Report 2, July 2017, p. 10.

[48]      University of South Australia, Drug use in Adelaide Monitored by Wastewater Analysis, April 2017, p. 6, http://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/f801a20045027ebea445f4005ba75f87/Standard+report+December+2016+data_16+03+17.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CACHEID=f801a20045027ebea445f4005ba75f87 (accessed 27 July 2017).

[49]      University of South Australia, Drug use in Adelaide Monitored by Wastewater Analysis, April 2017, p. 6, http://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/f801a20045027ebea445f4005ba75f87/Standard+report+December+2016+data_16+03+17.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CACHEID=f801a20045027ebea445f4005ba75f87 (accessed 27 July 2017).

[50]      ACIC, National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program, Report 2, July 2017, p. 6.

[51]      On 27 July 2017, TasWater denied it opted out of the wastewater analysis. See: Edith Bevin, 'TasWater denies it has opted out of "vital" wastewater testing for drugs like ice', ABC, 27 July 2017, http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-07-27/taswater-denies-opt-out-from-national-sewage-drug-testing/8748620 (accessed 31 July 2017).

[52]      The ACIC noted if further testing sites decide to not participate in the national wastewater analysis, the ACIC will identify replacement sites in participating jurisdictions to ensure the largest possible segment of the national population is sampled. The ACIC noted the location of sites may change over the three years of the study. See, ACIC, National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program, Report 2, July 2017, p. 10.

[53]      ACIC, National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program, Report 2, July 2017, p. 4.

[54]      ACIC, National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program, Report 2, July 2017, p. 24.

[55]      ACIC, National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program, Report 2, July 2017, p. 24.

[56]      ACIC, National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program, Report 2, July 2017, p. 43.

[57]      Ms Annie Madden, Executive Officer, Australian Injecting and Illicit Drug Users League, Committee Hansard, 25 November 2015, p. 7.

[58]      Ms Linda Forbes, Manager, Policy and Communications, Australian Federation of AIDS Organisation, Committee Hansard, 29 July 2015, p. 15.

[59]      Dr Alex Wodak, President, Australian Drug Law Reform Foundation (ADLRF), Committee Hansard, 29 July 2015, p. 49.

[60]      Dr Wodak, ADLRF, Committee Hansard, 29 July 2015, p. 49.

[61]      Dr Wodak, ADLRF, Committee Hansard, 29 July 2015, p. 50.

[62]      Mr John Ryan, CEO, Penington Institute, Committee Hansard, 27 July 2015, p. 10.

[63]      The primary drug that leads an individual to seek treatment is identified because users often report poly-drug use. Poly-drug use is discussed further in this chapter (see paragraph      2.117–2.118).

[64]      AIHW, Submission 6, p. 5.

[65]      AIHW, Submission 6, p. 5.

[66]      See paragraph 2.41.

[67]      Professor Rebecca McKetin, Australian National University (ANU), Committee Hansard, 9 September 2015, p. 11.

[68]      Professor McKetin, ANU, Committee Hansard, 9 September 2015, p. 11.

[69]      Mrs Emma Armitage, Allied Health Manager, Queensland Health, Committee Hansard, 30 July 2015, p 22.

[70]      Ms Kim Reid, Executive Director, Kidz Youth Community Consultancy, Committee Hansard, 30 July 2015, p. 22.

[71]      Louisa Degenhardt, Sarah Larney, Gary Chan, Timothy Dobbins, Megan Weier, Amanda Roxburgh, Wayne Hall and Rebecca McKetin, 'Estimating the number of regular and dependent methamphetamine users in Australia, 2002–2014', Medical Journal of Australia 2014 (4), 7 March 2016, p. 1.e4.

[72]      AIHW, Submission 6, p 4.

[73]      AIHW, Submission 6, p 9.

[74]      Users that had not used crystal methamphetamine in the previous 12 months.

[75]      Used within the previous 12 months.

[76]      The NDSHS noted that this estimate has a relative standard error of 25 per cent and 50 per cent and should be used with caution.

[77]      The NDSHS noted that this estimate has a relative standard error of 25 per cent and 50 per cent and should be used with caution.

[78]      Western Australia had only one regional testing site included in the report.

[79]      ACIC, National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program, March 2017, p. 35.

[80]      ACIC, National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program, March 2017, p. 35.

[81]      National Rural Health Alliance, Illicit Drug Use in Rural Australia, Fact Sheet 33, June 2015, p. 1.

[82]      Professor Ann Roche, Director, National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction, Flinders University, Committee Hansard, 28 July 2015, p 4.

[83]      Professor Roche, Flinders University, Committee Hansard, 28 July 2015, pp 4–5.

[84]      Professor Roche, Flinders University, Committee Hansard, 28 July 2015, pp 4–5.

[85]      Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association (VAADA), Submission 14, p. 8.

[86]      VAADA, Submission 14, p. 9.

[87]      Dr Louise Roufeil, Executive Manager Professional Practice, Australian Psychological Society, Committee Hansard, 27 July 2015, p. 54.

[88]      Ms Jody Wright, Executive Officer, Drug Arm Australasia, Committee Hansard, 30 July 2015, p. 6.

[89]      Professor Paul Dietze, Deputy Director, Burnet Institute, Committee Hansard, 9 September 2015, p. 5.

[90]      Professor Dietze, Burnet Institute, Committee Hansard, 9 September 2015, p. 5.

[91]      Professor Dietze, Burnet Institute, Committee Hansard, 9 September 2015, p. 4.

[92]      Miss Laura McGillivray, Bond University, Committee Hansard, 30 July 2015, p. 39.

[93]      Youth Off the Streets, Submission 33, p. 6.

[94]      Youth Off the Streets, Submission 33, p. 6.

[95]      National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Legal Service, Submission 69, p 5.

[96]      The AIHW reported that this estimate had a relative standard error of between 25 per cent and 50 per cent, and therefore should be interpreted with caution.

[97]      AIHW, Submission 6, p. 4.

[98]      Youth Off the Streets, Submission 33, p. 7.

[99]      Bond University, Submission 70, p. 10.

[100]    Reported occurrences were in East Ernhem and Tiwi Island regions.

[101]    Northern Territory Police, Submission 68, pp 11–12.

[102]    Dr Mark Wenitong, Cape York Health Council, Committee Hansard, 30 July 2015, p. 15.

[103]    Mr Brian Stacey, Cape York Partnership, Committee Hansard, 30 July 2015, p. 18.

[104]    Dr Pendo Mwaiteleke, Cape York Partnership, Committee Hansard, 30 July 2015, pp 15–16.

[105]    Ms Learne Durrington, CEO, WA Primary Health Alliance, Committee Hansard, 2 May 2017, p. 18.

[106]    Ms Michelle Nelson-Cox, Chairperson, Aboriginal Health Council of Western Australia, Committee Hansard, 3 May 2017, p. 44.

[107]    AIHW, National Drug Strategy Household Survey detailed report 2013, p. 95.

[108]    University of New South Wales (UNSW), Gay Community Periodic Survey: Sydney 2016, p. 5.

[109]    UNSW, Gay Community Periodic Survey: Sydney 2016, p. 21.

[110]    UNSW, Gay Community Periodic Survey: Melbourne 2016, p. 7.

[111]    UNSW, Gay Community Periodic Survey: Melbourne 2016, p. 23.

[112]    Mr Nicolas Parkhill, CEO, AIDS Council of New South Wales, Committee Hansard, 29 July 2015, p. 16.

[113]    The Penington Institute, Submission 26, p 21.

[114]    Imogen Brennan, 'Sex and crystal meth: The rise of chemsex', ABC Lateline, http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-04-14/the-rise-of-chemsex/7326744 (accessed on 13 September 2016).

[115]    Mr Parkhill, AIDS Council of New South Wales, Committee Hansard, 29 July 2015, p. 16.

[116]    ACIC, Illicit Drug Data Report 2014–15, p. 24.

[117]    ACIC, Illicit Drug Data Report 2014–15, p. 24.

[118]    ACIC, Illicit Drug Data Report 2014–15, p. 24.

[119]    The National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction (NCETA), Submission 27, Attachment 1, p. 1.

[120]    NCETA, Submission 27, Attachment 1, p. 1.

[121]    NCETA, Submission 27, Attachment 1, p. 1.

[122]    Australian Drug Foundation (ADF), Submission 51, p 7.

[123]    Including crystal methamphetamine.

[124]    ADF, Submission 51, p 7.

[125]    ADF, Submission 51, p 7.

[126]    Australian Medical Association, Submission 39, p 2.

[127]    Professor McKetin, ANU, Committee Hansard, 9 September 2015, p. 15.

[128]    Professor McKetin, ANU, Committee Hansard, 9 September 2015, p. 15.

[129]    Professor McKetin, ANU, Committee Hansard, 9 September 2015, p. 15.

[130]    Rebecca McKetin, Jennifer McLaren and Erin Kelly, 'The Sydney methamphetamine market: Patters of supply, use, personal harms and social consequences', Monograph Series No. 13, NDARC, 2005, p. xviii.

[131]    Rebecca McKetin, Jennifer McLaren and Erin Kelly, 'The Sydney methamphetamine market: Patters of supply, use, personal harms and social consequences', Monograph Series No. 13, NDARC, 2005, p. xviii.

[132]    Professor Roche, Flinders University, Committee Hansard, 28 July 2015, p. 7.

[133]    Mr Stephen Fontana, Assistant Commissioner, Victoria Police, Committee Hansard, 27 July 2015, p. 2.

[134]    Mr Fontana, Victoria Police, Committee Hansard, 27 July 2015, p. 2.

[135]    Mr Ryan, Penington Institute, Committee Hansard, 27 July 2015, p. 12.

[136]    Dr Lucy Burns, NDARC, Committee Hansard, 29 July 2015, p. 25.

[137]    Professor Roche, Flinders University, Committee Hansard, 28 July 2015, p 7.

[138]    Dr Louise Roufeil, Australian Psychological Society, Committee Hansard, 27 July 2015, p 56.

[139]    Dr Wodak, ADLRF, Committee Hansard, 29 July 2015, p. 47.

[140]    Turning Point, Ambo-AOD statistics, 30 November 2016, http://www.amboaodstats.org.au/ (accessed 5 April 2017).

[141]    Turning Point, Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances 2014–15 Summary Bulletin, October 2016, p. 3.

[142]    Turning Point, 'Trends in alcohol and drug-related ambulance attendances in Victoria 2013/14', Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug-Related Ambulance Attendees, August 2015, p. 40.

[143]    Turning Point, 'Trends in alcohol and drug-related ambulance attendances in Victoria 2013/14', Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug-Related Ambulance Attendees, August 2015, p. 40.

[144]    National Ice Action Strategy, Our Actions, 2015, p. 25.

[145]    Nation Ice Taskforce, Final Report, 2015, p. 153.

[146]    Definition for presentation includes provisional diagnosis for symptoms: overdose/poisoning, acute alcohol problems, illicit drugs or mental health problems; or where nursing assessment includes reference to terms 'ice' or 'meth'. See, Health Stats NSW, Methamphetamine related Emergency Department presentations, 19 July 2016, http://www.healthstats.nsw.gov.au/indicator/beh_illimethed/beh_illimethed (accessed 5 April 2017).

[147]    Health Stats NSW, Methamphetamine related Emergency Department presentations, 19 July 2016, http://www.healthstats.nsw.gov.au/indicator/beh_illimethed/beh_illimethed (accessed 5 April 2017).

[148]    Mr Sam Biondo, VAADA, Committee Hansard, 27 July 2015, p. 31.

[149]    AIHW, NDSHS 2016 Key findings table, http://www.aihw.gov.au/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=60129559847 (accessed 3 July 2017).

[150]    Helen Davidson, 'Methamphetamine deaths in Australia have jumped significantly – report', The Guardian, 5 June 2015, https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/jun/05/methamphetamine-deaths-in-australia-have-jumped-significantly-report (accessed 30 March 2017).

[151]    NDARC, Methamphetamine deaths increase across Australia and ice use jumps by 52 per cent among people who inject drugs, 5 June 2015, https://ndarc.med.unsw.edu.au/news/methamphetamine-deaths-increase-across-australia-and-ice-use-jumps-52-cent-among-people-who (accessed 5 April 2017).

[152]    Chloe Booker, 'Drug overdose deaths rise in Victoria', The Age, 28 March 2017, http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/drug-overdose-deaths-rise-in-victoria-20170328-gv8f6k.html (accessed 5 April 2017).

[153]    Mr Gavin Coote, 'This is not a beat up: Ice-related deaths doubled over seven years, study finds', ABC, 31 July 2017, http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-07-31/this-is-not-a-beat-up-study-finds-ice-related-deaths-double/8755172 (accessed 31 July 2017).

[154]    Mr Coote, 'This is not a beat up: Ice-related deaths doubled over seven years, study finds', ABC, 31 July 2017, http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-07-31/this-is-not-a-beat-up-study-finds-ice-related-deaths-double/8755172 (accessed 31 July 2017).

[155]    Mr Coote, 'This is not a beat up: Ice-related deaths doubled over seven years, study finds', ABC, 31 July 2017, http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-07-31/this-is-not-a-beat-up-study-finds-ice-related-deaths-double/8755172 (accessed 31 July 2017).

[156]    Professor Roche, Flinders University, Committee Hansard, 28 July 2015, p. 7.

[157]    Mr Ryan, Penington Institute, Committee Hansard, 27 July 2015, p. 12.

[158]    ADF, Submission 51, p. 6.

[159]    ADF, Drugs: the Facts, http://adf.org.au/drug-facts/drugs-the-facts/ (accessed 3 July 2017).

[160]    Mr Mark Ferry, CEO, Ted Noffs Foundation, Committee Hansard, 29 July 2015, p. 53.

[161]    Mr Ferry, Ted Noffs Foundation, Committee Hansard, 29 July 2015, p. 54.

[162]    Mr Ferry defined homelessness as those who live in refuges, couch surf or live on the street.

[163]    Mr Ferry, Ted Noffs Foundation, Committee Hansard, 29 July 2015, p. 54.

[164]    ADF, Submission 51, p. 11.

[165]    ADF, Submission 51, p. 11.

[166]    Professor McKetin, ANU, Committee Hansard, 9 September 2015, p. 10.

[167]    Professor McKetin, ANU, Committee Hansard, 9 September 2015, p. 10.

[168]    Professor McKetin, ANU, Committee Hansard, 9 September 2015, p. 10.

[169]    Dr Wodak, ADLRF, Committee Hansard, 29 July 2015, p. 46.

[170]    Mr Ryan, Penington Institute, Committee Hansard, 27 July 2015, p. 15.

[171]    ACIC, Illicit Drug Data Report 2015–16, p. 46.

[172]    ACIC, Illicit Drug Data Report 2014–15, p. 47.

[173]    A point is the typical amount of methamphetamine sold on the streets. Approximately a tenth of a gram.

[174]    ACIC, Illicit Drug Data Report 2015–16, p. 46.

[175]    ACIC, Illicit Drug Data Report 2015–16, p. 46.

[176]    Professor McKetin, ANU, Committee Hansard, 9 September 2015, p. 12.

[177]    ACIC, Illicit Drug Data Report 2015–16, p. 47.

[178]    ACIC, Illicit Drug Data Report 2015–16, p. 48.

[179]    NDARC, Australian Drug Trends 2015. Findings from the Illicit Drug Reporting System, Australian Drug Trend Series No 145, 2016, p. xvi.

[180]    Dr Burns, NDARC, Committee Hansard, 29 July 2015, p. 23.

[181]    ACIC, Illicit Drug Data Report 2014–15, p. 50.

[182]    Professor Dietz, Burnet Institute, Committee Hansard, 9 September 2015, p. 2.

[183]    Associate Professor John Fitzgerald, University of Melbourne, Committee Hansard, 27 July 2015, p. 37.

[184]    Professor Dietz, Burnet Institute, Committee Hansard, 9 September 2015, p. 2.

[185]    Professor McKetin, ANU, Committee Hansard, 9 September 2015, p. 10.

[186]    Mr Biondo, VAADA, Committee Hansard, 27 July 2015, p. 32.

[187]    Ms Kathryn Wright, Territorial Drug and Alcohol Director, Salvation Army, Committee Hansard, 29 July 2015, p. 29.

[188]    ACIC, Illicit Drug Data Report 2015–16, 2016, p. 12.

[189]    ACIC, Illicit Drug Data Report 2015–16, 2016, p. 12.

[190]    ACIC, Illicit Drug Data Report 2015–16, 2016, p. 12.

[191]    A finalised defendant is a person or organisation for whom all charges in a case have been formally completed so that they cease to be an item of work. For further information see: Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Defendants finalised 2015–16, 2 March 2017, http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/by%20Subject/4513.0~2015-16~Main%20Features~Defendants%20finalised~4 (accessed 8 August 2017).

[192]    ABS, Criminal Courts Australia, 2015–16, 2 March 2017, http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/4513.0 (accessed 8 August 2017).

[193]    ABS, 'Illicit drug offences continue to rise', Media release, 1 March 2016, http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/by%20Subject/4513.0~2014-15~Media%20Release~Illicit%20drug%20offences%20continue%20to%20rise%20(Media%20Release)~18 (accessed 3 February 2017)

[194]    ABS, Criminal Courts Australia, 2014–15, 1 March 2016 http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/4513.0 (accessed 3 February 2017)

[195]    ABS, 'Illicit drug offences continue to rise', Media release, 1 March 2016, http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/by%20Subject/4513.0~2014-15~Media%20Release~Illicit%20drug%20offences%20continue%20to%20rise%20(Media%20Release)~18 (accessed 3 February 2017)

[196]    ABS, Defendants proven guilty, 2015–16, 2 March 2017, http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/by%20Subject/4513.0~2015-16~Main%20Features~Defendants%20proven%20guilty~5 (accessed 8 August 2017).

[197]    ABS, Data Cubes, 2015–16, 31 July 2017, http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DetailsPage/4513.02015-16?OpenDocument  (accessed 8 August 2017).

[198]    ABS, Data Cubes, 2015–16, 31 July 2017, http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DetailsPage/4513.02015-16?OpenDocument  (accessed 8 August 2017).

[199]    Nation Ice Taskforce, Final Report, 2015, p. ii.

Chapter 3 - Australia's drug strategies

[1]        Formally known as the National Campaign Against Drug Abuse and renamed the National Drugs Strategy (NDS) in 1993. See Intergovernmental Committee on Drugs, National Drug Strategy 2016–2025 (Draft), October 2015, p. 3, http://www.nationaldrugstrategy.gov.au/internet/drugstrategy/Publishing.nsf/content/73E3AD4C708D5726CA257ED000050625/$File/draftnds.pdf (accessed 6 July 2017).

[2]        Intergovernmental Committee on Drugs, National Drug Strategy 2016–2025 (Draft), October 2015, p. 3,  http://www.nationaldrugstrategy.gov.au/internet/drugstrategy/Publishing.nsf/content/73E3AD4C708D5726CA257ED000050625/$File/draftnds.pdf (accessed 6 July 2017).

[3]        Ministerial Drug and Alcohol Forum (MDAF), Communique, 29 May 2017, p. 1.

[4]        Australian Government, NDS 2017–2026, p. 3.

[5]        NDS 2017–2026, p. 19.

[6]        NDS 2017–2026, p. 20.

[7]        NDS 2017–2026, p. 21.

[8]        NDS 2017–2026, p. 22.

[9]        NDS 2017–2026, p. 23.

[10]      NDS 2017–2026, p. 24.

[11]      NDS 2017–2026, p. 25.

[12]      NDS 2017–2026, pp 25–29.

[13]      NDS 2017–2026, p. 38.

[14]      NDS 2017–2026, p. 38.

[15]      NDS 2017–2026, p. 40.

[16]      NDS 2017–2026, p. 40.

[17]      NDS 2017–2026, p. 40.

[18]      By those aged 14+ years.

[19]      Reported over the previous 12 month period.

[20]      NDS 2017–2026, p. 41.

[21]      NDS 2017–2026, p. 42.

[22]      Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C), The National Ice Taskforce, https://www.dpmc.gov.au/domestic-policy/taskforces-past-domestic-policy-initiatives/national-ice-taskforce (accessed 22 September 2016).

[23]      National Ice Taskforce (NIT), Final report, 2015, p. 1.

[24]      NIT, Final Report, 2015, p. 1.

[25]      PM&C, The National Ice Taskforce, https://www.dpmc.gov.au/domestic-policy/taskforces-past-domestic-policy-initiatives/national-ice-taskforce (accessed 22 September 2016).

[26]      NIT, Final report, 2015, pp vi–xv.

[27]      Commonwealth of Australia, Taking action to combat ice, December 2015, p. 1.

[28]      Commonwealth of Australia, Taking action to combat ice, December 2015, p. 1.

[29]      Department of Health (DoH), Government response to the Final Report of the National Ice Action Taskforce, http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/MC15-009596-national-ice-taskforce (accessed 22 September 2016).

[30]      Commonwealth of Australia, Taking action to combat ice, December 2015, pp 1–2.

[31]      The Hon. Malcolm Turnbull MP, Prime Minister, the Hon Michael Keenan MP, Minister for Justice, Senator the Hon Fiona Nash, Minister for Rural Health, Joint Doorstop Interview (Joint Doorstop Interview), Transcript, Sydney, 6 December 2015, p. 3.

[32]      Joint Doorstop Interview, Transcript, Sydney, 6 December 2015, p. 3.

[33]      Joint Doorstop Interview, Transcript, Sydney, 6 December 2015, p. 3.

[34]      Joint Doorstop Interview, Transcript, Sydney, 6 December 2015, p. 5.

[35]      Joint Doorstop Interview, Transcript, Sydney, 6 December 2015, p. 4.

[36]      Joint Doorstop Interview, Transcript, Sydney, 6 December 2015, p. 5.

[37]      Joint Doorstop Interview, Transcript, Sydney, 6 December 2015, p. 8.

[38]      Joint Doorstop Interview, Transcript, Sydney, 6 December 2015, p. 8.

[39]      Joint Doorstop Interview, Transcript, Sydney, 6 December 2015, p. 9.

[40]      Senator the Hon. Fiona Nash, 'Determined To Shatter The Ice Problem', Huffington Post, 6 December 2015, http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/fiona-nash/post_10682_b_8726420.html (accessed 30 September 2015).

[41]      Council of Australian Governments (COAG), National Ice Action Strategy (NIAS), 2015, p. 22.

[42]      COAG, NIAS, 2015, p. 22.

[43]      COAG, NIAS, 2015, p. 22.

[44]      COAG, NIAS, 2015, p. 22.

[45]      This funding is not exclusively directed to crystal methamphetamine specific services. See, Professor Rebecca McKetin, Drug and Alcohol Review, May 2016, pp 247–249.

[46]      DoH, Drug and Alcohol Treatment Service PHN Circular 1–4 February 2016, http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/PHN-Circular1_AOD (assessed 28 July 2017).

[47]      DoH, Drug and Alcohol Treatment Service PHN Circular 1–4 February 2016, http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/PHN-Circular1_AOD (accessed 28 July 2017).

[48]      COAG, NIAS, 2015, p. 26.

[49]      Dr Wendy Southern, Deputy Secretary, DoH, Committee Hansard, 24 March 2017, p. 23.

[50]      Dr Southern, DoH, Committee Hansard, 24 March 2017, p. 23.

[51]      Ms Catherine Hawkins, First Assistant Secretary, Attorney-General's Department, Committee Hansard, 24 March 2017, p. 34.

[52]      MDAF, Communique, 29 May 2017, p. 1.

[53]      MDAF, Communique, 16 December 2016, pp 1–2.

[54]      Law, Crime, and Community Council, Communique, 21 October 2016, p. 2.

[55]      NDS 2017–2026, p. 35.

[56]      NDS 2017–2026, p. 36.

[57]      Ms Amy Coopes, 'Health at the heart of ice strategy', Croakey, 7 December 2015, https://croakey.org/health-at-the-heart-of-ice-strategy/ (accessed 5 October 2016).

[58]      Ms Amy Coopes, 'Health at the heart of ice strategy', Croakey, 7 December 2015, https://croakey.org/health-at-the-heart-of-ice-strategy/ (accessed 5 October 2016).

[59]      Mental Health Australia, 'Report from Ice Taskforce welcomed', Media release, 4 December 2015.

[60]      Professor Margaret Hamilton and Professor Adrian Dunlop, '"Ice" (crystal methamphetamine): concerns and responses', Australian Medical Journal, 204 (4), 7 March 2016, p. 137.

[61]      Professor Margaret Hamilton and Professor Adrian Dunlop, '"Ice" (crystal methamphetamine): concerns and responses', Australian Medical Journal, 204 (4), 7 March 2016, p. 137.

[62]      Ms Amy Coopes, 'Health at the heart of ice strategy', Croakey, 7 December 2015, https://croakey.org/health-at-the-heart-of-ice-strategy/ (accessed 5 October 2016).

[63]      Mr Eamonn Duff, 'Malcolm Turnbull pledges $300 million funding for drug treatment services', The Sydney Morning Herald, 6 December 2015.

[64]      Professor McKetin, 'Will the Australian Government's response to its 'National Ice Taskforce' deliver more treatment as promised', Drug and Alcohol Review, 35, May 2016, p. 247.

[65]      Professor McKetin, 'Will the Australian Government's response to its 'National Ice Taskforce' deliver more treatment as promised', Drug and Alcohol Review, 35, May 2016, p. 247.

[66]      Professor McKetin, Drug and Alcohol Review, 35, May 2016, p. 247.

[67]      Professor McKetin, Drug and Alcohol Review, 35, May 2016, p. 248.

[68]      Professor McKetin, Drug and Alcohol Review, 35, May 2016, p. 248.

[69]      Professor McKetin, Drug and Alcohol Review, 35, May 2016, p. 248.

[70]      Professor McKetin, Drug and Alcohol Review, 35, May 2016, p. 248.

[71]      Dr Alex Wodak and Mr Matthew Frei, 'Beyond ice: rethinking Australia's approach to illicit drugs', Medical Journal of Australia, 206 (4), pp 151–152.

[72]      Dr Wodak and Mr Frei, Medical Journal of Australia, 206 (4), pp 151–152.

[73]      Dr Wodak and Mr Frei, Medical Journal of Australia, 206 (4), pp 151–152.

[74]      Dr Wodak and Mr Frei, Medical Journal of Australia, 206 (4), pp 151–152.

[75]      Dr Wodak and Mr Frei, Medical Journal of Australia, 206 (4), pp 151–152.

[76]      The National Ice Action Plan refers to the combination of the NIT's report, the government's response and the NIAS.

[77]      Mr Bill O'Loughlin, 'The National Ice Action Plan is a setback to all that has been achieved in drug policy', The Guardian, 7 December 2015, https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/dec/07/the-national-ice-action-plan-is-a-setback-to-all-that-has-been-achieved-in-drug-policy (accessed 6 October 2016).

[78]      Mr Bill O'Loughlin, 'The National Ice Action Plan is a setback to all that has been achieved in drug policy', The Guardian, 7 December 2015, https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/dec/07/the-national-ice-action-plan-is-a-setback-to-all-that-has-been-achieved-in-drug-policy (accessed 6 October 2016).

[79]      Mr O'Loughlin, 'The National Ice Action Plan is a setback to all that has been achieved in drug policy', The Guardian, 7 December 2015, https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/dec/07/the-national-ice-action-plan-is-a-setback-to-all-that-has-been-achieved-in-drug-policy (accessed 6 October 2016).

[80]      Mr O'Loughlin, 'The National Ice Action Plan is a setback to all that has been achieved in drug policy', The Guardian, 7 December 2015, https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/dec/07/the-national-ice-action-plan-is-a-setback-to-all-that-has-been-achieved-in-drug-policy (accessed 6 October 2016).

[81]      Mr O'Loughlin, 'The National Ice Action Plan is a setback to all that has been achieved in drug policy', The Guardian, 7 December 2015, https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/dec/07/the-national-ice-action-plan-is-a-setback-to-all-that-has-been-achieved-in-drug-policy (accessed 6 October 2016).

[82]      Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, Illicit Drug Data Report 2015-16, June 2017, p. 3. 

[83]      New Zealand Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, 'Methamphetamine – indicators and progress reports', Publications, 17 December 2015, https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/publications/methamphetamine-indicators-and-progress-reports (accessed 7 July 2017).

Chapter 4 - The role of law enforcement and serious and organised crime

[1]        Commonwealth of Australia, Submission 53, p. 9.

[2]        Mr Stephen Fontana APM, Assistant Commissioner, Crime Command, Victoria Police, Committee Hansard, 27 July 2015, p. 1.

[3]        Commonwealth of Australia, Submission 53, p. 11.

[4]        Attorney-General's Department (AGD), National Organised Crime Response Plan 2015–18, available: https://www.ag.gov.au/CrimeAndCorruption/OrganisedCrime/Documents/NationalOrganisedCrimeResponsePlan2015-18.pdf  (accessed 18 July 2017).

[5]        AGD, National Organised Crime Response Plan 2015–18, available: https://www.ag.gov.au/CrimeAndCorruption/OrganisedCrime/Documents/NationalOrganisedCrimeResponsePlan2015-18.pdf (accessed 18 July 2017).

[6]        Commonwealth of Australia, Submission 53, p. 11.

[7]        Commander Pryce Scanlan, Commander (Crime Operations), Western Australia Police, Committee Hansard, 3 May 2017, p. 2.

[8]        AGD, National Organised Crime Response Plan 2015–18, p. 7, https://www.ag.gov.au/CrimeAndCorruption/OrganisedCrime/Documents/NationalOrganisedCrimeResponsePlan2015-18.pdf (accessed 18 July 2017).

[9]        AGD, National Organised Crime Response Plan 2015–18, p. 7, https://www.ag.gov.au/CrimeAndCorruption/OrganisedCrime/Documents/NationalOrganisedCrimeResponsePlan2015-18.pdf (accessed 18 July 2017).

[10]      Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC), Australian Gangs Intelligence Coordination Centre, 30 June 2016, https://www.acic.gov.au/about-crime/taskforces/australian-gangs-intelligence-coordination-centre (accessed 19 July 2017).

[11]      Commonwealth of Australia, Submission 53, p. 5.

[12]      Mr Chris Dawson, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), ACIC, Inquiry into the Australian Crime Commission annual report 2015–16, Committee Hansard, 14 June 2017, p. 2.

[13]      Mr Dawson, ACIC, Inquiry into the Australian Crime Commission annual report 2015–16, Committee Hansard, 14 June 2017, p. 2.

[14]      Consisting of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, and the United States of America.

[15]      ACIC, Vestigo Task Force, https://www.acic.gov.au/about-crime/task-forces/vestigo-task-force (accessed 20 July 2017).

[16]      ACIC, Vestigo Task Force, https://www.acic.gov.au/about-crime/task-forces/vestigo-task-force (accessed 20 July 2017).

[17]      ACIC, Vestigo Task Force, https://www.acic.gov.au/about-crime/task-forces/vestigo-task-force (accessed 20 July 2017).

[18]      ACIC, Illicit Drug Data Report 2015–16, 30 June 2017, p. 28.

[19]      ACIC, Illicit Drug Data Report 2014–15, 30 June 2017, p. 26.

[20]      ACIC, Illicit Drug Data Report 2015–16, 30 June 2017, p. 28.

[21]      3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine.

[22]      ACIC, Illicit Drug Data Report 2015–16, 30 June 2017, p. 28.

[23]      ACIC, Illicit Drug Data Report 2015–16, 30 June 2017, p. 30.

[24]      Commonwealth of Australia, Submission 53, pp 6–7.

[25]      ACIC, Illicit Drug Data Report 2015–16, 30 June 2017, p. 30.

[26]      ACIC, Illicit Drug Data Report 2015–16, 30 June 2017, p. 30.

[27]      ACIC, Illicit Drug Data Report 2015–16, 30 June 2017, p. 30.

[28]      ACIC, Illicit Drug Data Report 2015–16, 30 June 2017, p. 29.

[29]      Australian Federal Police (AFP), 'Two Malaysian nationals charged with possessing over 100 kilograms of methamphetamine', Media release, 24 December 2016, https://www.afp.gov.au/news-media/media-releases/two-malaysian-nationals-charged-possessing-over-100-kilograms (accessed 15 February 2017).

[30]      AFP, 'Four charged following interception of methamphetamine', Media release, 21 December 2016, https://www.afp.gov.au/news-media/media-releases/four-charged-following-interception-methamphetamine (accessed 15 February 2017).

[31]      AFP, 'Man charged for attempting to import 210kg of methamphetamine concealed in jeans', Media release, 19 August 2016, https://www.afp.gov.au/news-media/media-releases/media-release-man-charged-attempting-import-210kg-methamphetamine?utm_source=mail%20alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=media%20release (accessed 15 February 2017).

[32]      AFP, 'Two people charged with importing 154kg of methamphetamine in timber logs', Media release, 4 August 2016, https://www.afp.gov.au/news-media/media-releases/media-release-two-people-charged-importing-154kg-methamphetamine-timber (accessed 15 February 2017).

[33]      National Ice Taskforce (NIT), Final report, 2015, p. 8.

[34]      Commander Bruce Hill, Manager, Organised Crime, AFP, Committee Hansard, 24 March 2017, p. 32.

[35]      Dr John Moss, National Manager, Intelligence, Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre, Committee Hansard, 24 March 2017, p. 32.

[36]      Commander Hill, AFP, Committee Hansard, 24 March 2017, p. 33.

[37]      ACIC, Illicit Drug Data Report 2015–16, 30 June 2017, p. 31.

[38]      ACIC, Illicit Drug Data Report 2015–16, 30 June 2017, p. 31.

[39]      Commonwealth of Australia, Submission 53, p. 5.

[40]      Commonwealth of Australia, Submission 53, p. 5.

[41]      Law Reform, Drugs and Crime Prevention Committee, Inquiry into the supply and use of methamphetamine in Victoria, Volume 1, September 2014, p. 359.

[42]      Deputy Commissioner Nick Kaldas, Deputy Commissioner, NSW Police Force, Committee Hansard, 29 July 2015, p. 9.

[43]      National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC), Sydney methamphetamine market: Patters of supply, use, personal harms and social consequences, Monograph Series No. 13, 2005, p. 37.

[44]      NDARC, Sydney methamphetamine market: Patters of supply, use, personal harms and social consequences, Monograph Series No. 13, 2005, p. 51.

[45]      NDARC, Sydney methamphetamine market: Patters of supply, use, personal harms and social consequences, Monograph Series No. 13, 2005, p. 41.

[46]      Northern Territory Police, Submission 109, p. 8.

[47]      Mr Glenn Frame, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Operations), Tasmania Police, Committee Hansard, 24 March 2017, p. 7.

[48]      Commander Scanlan, Western Australia Police, Committee Hansard, 3 May 2017, p. 8.

[49]      Mr Fontana APM, Victoria Police, Committee Hansard, 27 July 2015, p. 3.

[50]      Mr Michael Palmer, Committee Hansard, 12 August 2015, p. 7.

[51]      Victoria Police, Submission 59, p. 13.

[52]      Dr Terry Goldsworthy, Associate Professor, Criminology Department, Bond University, Committee Hansard, 30 July 2015, p. 38.

[53]      Dr Terry Goldsworthy, Bond University, Committee Hansard, 30 July 2015, p. 38.

[54]      NIT, Final report, 2015, p. 142.

[55]      NIT, Final report, 2015, p. 142.

[56]      Council of Australian Governments (COAG), National Ice Action Strategy (NIAS), 2015, p. 25.

[57]      Australian Crime Commission Act 2002, ss. 4(1).

[58]      Australian Crime Commission Act 2002, ss. 4 (1).

[59]      United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, New York, 15 November 2000, entry into force 26 June 2004, [2004] ATS 12, Article 2.

[60]      According to EUROPOL, serious and organised crime is defined as 'having involved two more people where the crime is serious enough to warrant sanctions of at least four years imprisonment and where the purpose is, directly or indirectly, to obtain a financial or other material benefit', see: NDARC, University of New South Wales, Submission 16, p. 10.

[61]      NDARC, University of New South Wales, Submission 16, p. 10.

[62]      ACIC, Criminal syndicates, https://www.acic.gov.au/about-crime/organised-crime-groups/criminal-syndicates (accessed 20 July 2017).

[63]      ACIC, Criminal syndicates, https://www.acic.gov.au/about-crime/organised-crime-groups/criminal-syndicates (accessed 20 July 2017).

[64]      Mr Dawson, ACIC, Inquiry into the Australian Crime Commission annual report 2015–16, Committee Hansard, 14 June 2017, p. 2.

[65]      ACIC, Professional facilitators, https://www.acic.gov.au/about-crime/organised-crime-groups/professional-facilitators (accessed 20 July 2017).

[66]      Commonwealth of Australia, Submission 53, p. 5.

[67]      Commonwealth of Australia, Submission 53, p. 6.

[68]      Commander Hill, AFP, Committee Hansard, 24 March 2017, p. 35.

[69]      Commonwealth of Australia, Submission 53, p. 6.

[70]      United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Submission 36, p. 13.

[71]      Commander Hill, AFP, Committee Hansard, 24 March 2017, p. 31.

[72]      Commander Hill, AFP, Committee Hansard, 24 March 2017, p. 31.

[73]      The UNODC acknowledges that increased seizures may partly be due to effective law enforcement measures, as well as expanding demand/manufacturing and increased trafficking through the region.

[74]      UNODC, Submission 36, p. 3.

[75]      Detective Superintendent Graham  Goodwin, Officer in Charge, Serious and Organised Crime Branch, South Australia Police, Committee Hansard, 28 July 2015, p. 10.

Chapter 5 - Law enforcement strategies to address crystal methamphetamine

[1]        Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC), National Criminal Intelligence System, https://www.acic.gov.au/ncis (accessed 11 July 2017).

[2]        Commonwealth of Australia, Submission 53, p. 21.

[3]        See Recommendation 25, National Ice Taskforce (NIT), Final report, p. 141.

[4]        NIT, Final report, 2015, p. xii.

[5]        Council of Australian Governments (COAG), National Ice Action Strategy (NIAS), 2015, p. 25.

[6]        Attorney-General's Department (AGD), Submission 117, p. 3.

[7]        AGD, Submission 117, p. 3.

[8]        Mr Chris Dawson, Chief Executive Officer, ACIC, Committee Hansard, 14 June 2017, p. 2.

[9]        Mr Dawson, ACIC, Committee Hansard, 14 June 2017, p. 2.

[10]      Mr Dawson, ACIC, Committee Hansard, 14 June 2017, p. 5.

[11]      NIT, Final report, 2015, p. 60.

[12]      NIT, Final report, 2015, p, 60.

[13]      Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC), Trends and issues in crime and criminal justice: Procedural impediments to effective unexplained wealth legislation in Australia, No. 523, December 2016, p. 1.

[14]      Parliamentary Joint Committee on Law Enforcement (PJCLE), Inquiry into Commonwealth unexplained wealth legislation and arrangements, March 2012, p. 16.

[15]      AIC, Trends and issues in crime and criminal justice: Procedural impediments to effective unexplained wealth legislation in Australia, No. 523, December 2016, p. 5.

[16]      Western Australia Police, Proceeds of Crime, https://www.police.wa.gov.au/Crime/Proceeds%20of%20crime (accessed 27 July 2017).

[17]      AIC, Trends and issues in crime and criminal justice: Procedural impediments to effective unexplained wealth legislation in Australia, No. 523, December 2016, p. 2.

[18]      Western Australia Police, Proceeds of Crime Squad, https://www.police.wa.gov.au/Crime/Proceeds-of-crime/Proceeds-of-Crime-Squad (accessed 27 July 2017).

[19]      AIC, Trends and issues in crime and criminal justice: Procedural impediments to effective unexplained wealth legislation in Australia, No. 523, December 2016, p. 3.

[20]      AIC, Trends and issues in crime and criminal justice: Procedural impediments to effective unexplained wealth legislation in Australia, No. 523, December 2016, p. 3.

[21]      AIC, Trends and issues in crime and criminal justice: Procedural impediments to effective unexplained wealth legislation in Australia, No. 523, December 2016, p. 4.

[22]      AIC, Trends and issues in crime and criminal justice: Procedural impediments to effective unexplained wealth legislation in Australia, No. 523, December 2016, p. 4.

[23]      AIC, Trends and issues in crime and criminal justice: Procedural impediments to effective unexplained wealth legislation in Australia, No. 523, December 2016, p. 4.

[24]      AIC, Trends and issues in crime and criminal justice: Procedural impediments to effective unexplained wealth legislation in Australia, No. 523, December 2016, p. 5.

[25]      AIC, Trends and issues in crime and criminal justice: Procedural impediments to effective unexplained wealth legislation in Australia, No. 523, December 2016, p. 5.

[26]      The authors noted that information on the success of unexplained wealth legislation is incomplete because full data could not be obtained from some jurisdictions and there are no national statistics available on the success of unexplained wealth orders. See, Mr Marcus Smith and Mr Russell Smith, Exploring the procedural barriers to securing unexplained wealth orders in Australia: Report to the Criminology Research Advisory Council, December 2016, p. 7.

[27]      Mr M Smith and Mr R Smith, Exploring the procedural barriers to securing unexplained wealth orders in Australia: Report to the Criminology Research Advisory Council, December 2016, p. 7.

[28]      AIC, Trends and issues in crime and criminal justice: Procedural impediments to effective unexplained wealth legislation in Australia, No. 523, December 2016, p. 8.

[29]      Mr Michael Palmer, Committee Hansard, 12 August 2015, p. 2.

[30]      Committee Hansard, 12 August 2015, p. 2.

[31]      Mr Palmer, Committee Hansard, 12 August 2015, p. 2.

[32]      Committee Hansard, 12 August 2015, p. 2.

[33]      Committee Hansard, 12 August 2015, p. 6.

[34]      Committee Hansard, 12 August 2015, p. 6.

[35]      Mr Palmer, Committee Hansard, 12 August 2015, p. 8.

[36]      Detective Superintendent Graham Malcolm, Officer in Charge, Serious and Organised Crime Branch, South Australia Police, Committee Hansard, 28 July 2015, pp 16–17.

[37]      Deputy Commissioner Naguib Kaldas, Deputy Commissioner, Field Operations, New South Wales Police Force, Committee Hansard, 29 July 2015, p. 1.

[38]      Victoria Police, Submission 59, p. 14.

[39]      NIT, Final report, 2015, p. 114.

[40]      COAG, NIAS, 2015, p. 25.

[41]      Ms Catherine Hawkins, First Assistant Secretary, AGD, Committee Hansard, 24 March 2017, p. 34.

[42]      Ms Hawkins, AGD, Committee Hansard, 24 March 2017, p. 34.

[43]      PJCLE, Inquiry into Commonwealth unexplained wealth legislation and arrangements, 19 March 2012, p. xvi.

[44]      COAG, NIAS, 2015, p. 25.

[45]      Office of Justice Programs, "Swift and Certain" Sanctions in Probation Are Highly Effective: Evaluation of the HOPE Program, 3 February 2012, available: http://www.nij.gov/topics/corrections/community/drug-offenders/pages/hawaii-hope.aspx (accessed 1 August 2017).

[46]      Associate Professor Peter Miller, Submission 1, p. 2.

[47]      Professor Anne Roche, Director, National Centre for Education and Training on Addictions, Flinders University, Committee Hansard, 28 July 2015, p. 5.

[48]      Office of Justice Programs, National Institute of Justice, Swift and certain sanction in probation are highly effective: Evaluation of the HOPE program, 3 February 2012, available: http://www.nij.gov/topics/corrections/community/drug-offenders/pages/hawaii-hope.aspx (accessed 24 July 2017).

[49]      The 10 year follow up evaluation is limited by its small sample size and selection biases inherent in the selection of the original study groups. The researchers noted this 'substantially limits the strengths of any conclusions that might be drawn'.

[50]      The report noted the follow up evaluation was limited by its small sample size and the section biases inherent in the selection of the original study groups.

[51]      Angela Hawken, Jonathan Kulick, Kelly Smith, Jie Mei, Yiwen Zhang, Sara Jarman, Travis Yu, Chris Carson, Tifanie Vial, HOPE II: A follow-up to Hawai'i's HOPE evaluation, 17 May 2016, p. 13.

[52]      Katherine Gregory, 'NT Attorney-General calls for US HOPE program of swift and certain sanctions to deter 'knuckheads' from reoffending', ABC, 17 August 2015,  www.abc.net.au/news/2015-08-17/john-elferink-calls-for-us-hope-program-to-deter-offenders/6703492 (accessed 31 July 2017). 

[53]      AGD, answers to questions on notice, 28 March 2017 (received 12 April 2017).

[54]      Northern Territory government, Tackling ice in the Northern Territory, 26 February 2016, https://breaktheice.nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/231919/tackling-ice-in-nt-action-plan.pdf (accessed 27 July 2017), p. 10.

[55]      NIT, Final report, 2015, p. 62.

[56]      Mr Glenn Frame, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Operations), Tasmania Police, Committee Hansard, 24 March 2017, p. 5.

[57]      Commander Pryce Scanlon, Commander (Crime Operations), Western Australia Police, Committee Hansard, 3 May 2017, p. 8.

[58]      Superintendent Wayne Murray, Commander, Cabramatta Local Area Command, NSW Police Force, Committee Hansard, 29 July 2015, p. 5. 

[59]      Mr Palmer, Committee Hansard, 12 August 2015, p. 3.

[60]      Ms Jennifer Cruise, Mental Health Clinician, Mental Health Services, SA Health, Committee Hansard, 28 July 2015, p. 31 and 33. 

[61]      Superintendent Murray, NSW Police Force, Committee Hansard, 29 July 2015, p. 11.

[62]      Deputy Commissioner Nick Kaldas, Deputy Commissioner, Filed Operations, NSW Police Force, Committee Hansard, 29 July 2015, pp 3–4.

[63]      Dr Louise Roufeil, Executive Manager Professional Practice, Australian Psychological Society (APS), Committee Hansard, 27 July 2015, p. 54.

[64]      Dr Roufeil, APS, Committee Hansard, 27 July 2015, p. 61.

[65]      NIT, Final report, 2015, p. 146.

[66]      NIT, Final report, 2015, p. 146.

[67]      NIT, Final report, 2015, p. 147.

[68]      NIT, Final report, 2015, p. 147.

[69]      COAG, NIAS, 2015, p. 25.

[70]      Penington Institute, Submission 114, p. 6.

[71]      AGD, answers to questions on notice, 24 March 2017, p. 2 (received 12 April 2017).

[72]      Commonwealth of Australia, Submission 53, p. 8.

[73]      Commonwealth of Australia, Submission 53, p. 8.

[74]      ACIC, Illicit Drug Data Report 2015–16, 2016, p. 161.

[75]      ACIC, Illicit Drug Data Report 2015–16, 2016, p. 160.

[76]      ACIC, Illicit Drug Data Report 2015–16, 2016, p. 156.

[77]      ACIC, Illicit Drug Data Report 2015–16, 2016, p. 158.

[78]      ACIC, Illicit Drug Data Report 2015–16, 2016, p. 159.

[79]      Commonwealth of Australia, Submission 53, p. 8.

[80]      NIT, Final report, 2015, p. xii.

[81]      Department  of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C), Final report of the National Ice Taskforce, 2015, p. xiii, https://www.pmc.gov.au/sites/default/files/publications/national_ice_taskforce_final_report.pdf (accessed 28 July 2017). 

[82]      AGD, Precursor chemicals and equipment: Decision Regulation Impact Statement, 17 October 2016, p. 62, https://www.ag.gov.au/CrimeAndCorruption/Drugs/Documents/Decision-Regulation-Impact-Statement-Controls-on-precursor-chemicals-and-equipment.pdf (accessed 28 July 2017). 

[83]      The Hon. Michael Keenan MP, Minister for Justice, 'New resource to combat illicit drug manufacture', Media release, 5 April 2016.

[84]      The Hon. Michael Keenan MP, Minister for Justice, 'New resource to combat illicit drug manufacture', Media release, 5 April 2016.

[85]      AGD, Submission 117, p. 2.

[86]      PM&C, Regulation Impact Statement Update: Precursor Chemicals and Equipment [Decision], http://ris.pmc.gov.au/2017/01/06/precursor-chemicals-and-equipment-decision (accessed 28 July 2017).

[87]      AGD, Precursor chemicals and equipment: Decision Regulation Impact Statement, 17 October 2016, p. 64. 

[88]      AGD, Submission 117, p. 2.

[89]      Mr Col Blanch, Executive Director, Intelligence, ACIC, Committee Hansard, 24 March 2017, p. 29.

[90]      Deputy Commissioner Kaldas, NSW Police Force, Committee Hansard, 29 July 2015, p. 2.

[91]      Deputy Commissioner Kaldas, NSW Police Force, Committee Hansard, 29 July 2015, p. 2.

[92]      Deputy Commissioner Kaldas, NSW Police Force, Committee Hansard, 29 July 2015, p. 2.

[93]      Deputy Commissioner Kaldas, NSW Police Force, Committee Hansard, 29 July 2015, p. 3.

[94]      Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP), Aviation and Maritime Security Identification Cards, https://www.border.gov.au/australian-border-force-abf/protecting/airports-and-seaports/asic-and-msic (accessed 11 July 2017).

[95]      Victoria Police, Submission 59, p. 15.

[96]      PM&C, Final Report of the National Ice Taskforce, 2015, pp 139–140. 

[97]      PM&C, Final Report of the National Ice Taskforce, 2015, p. 140. 

[98]      See, COAG, NIAS, 2015, p. 25.

[99]      Transport Security Amendment (Serious Crime) Bill 2016, explanatory memorandum, p. 2. 

[100]    Transport Security Amendment (Serious Crime) Bill 2016, information available: http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r5689 (accessed 1 August 2017).

[101]    COAG, NIAS, 2015, p. 25.

[102]    NIT, Final report, 2015, p. 143.

[103]    Ms Hawkins, AGD, Committee Hansard, 24 March 2017, p. 28.

[104]    Ms Hawkins, AGD, Committee Hansard, 24 March 2017, p. 33.

[105]    The Hon. Michael Keenan MP, Minister for Justice, 'Successful Taskforce Blaze to continue fight against illicit drug scourge', Media release, 6 June 2017, https://www.ministerjustice.gov.au/Mediareleases/Pages/2017/SecondQuarter/Successful-taskforce-blaze-to-continue-fight-against-illicit-drug-scourge.aspx (accessed 13 July 2017).

[106]    Commander Bruce Hill, Manager, Organised Crime, Australian Federal Police (AFP), Committee Hansard, 24 March 2017, p. 31.

[107]    The Hon. Michael Keenan MP, 'Minister for Justice, Successful Taskforce Blaze to continue fight against illicit drug scourge', Media release, 6 June 2017, https://www.ministerjustice.gov.au/Mediareleases/Pages/2017/SecondQuarter/Successful-taskforce-blaze-to-continue-fight-against-illicit-drug-scourge.aspx (accessed 13 July 2017).

[108]    The Hon. Michael Keenan MP, 'Minister for Justice, Successful Taskforce Blaze to continue fight against illicit drug scourge', Media release, 6 June 2017, https://www.ministerjustice.gov.au/Mediareleases/Pages/2017/SecondQuarter/Successful-taskforce-blaze-to-continue-fight-against-illicit-drug-scourge.aspx (accessed 13 July 2017).

[109]    Commander Hill, AFP, Committee Hansard, 24 March 2017, p. 35.

[110]    Commander Hill, AFP, Committee Hansard, 24 March 2017, p. 35.

[111]    Dr John Moss, National Manager, Intelligence, Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC), Committee Hansard, 24 March 2017, p. 32.

[112]    Egmont Group, About, https://www.egmontgroup.org/content/about (accessed 18 July 2017).

[113]    Dr Moss, AUSTRAC, Committee Hansard, 24 March 2017, p. 32.

[114]    Dr Moss, AUSTRAC, Committee Hansard, 24 March 2017, p. 32.

[115]    AFP, 'AFP and Cambodian authorities working closely to combat drugs and transnational crime', Media release, 2 June 2016, https://www.afp.gov.au/news-media/media-releases/afp-and-cambodian-authorities-working-closely-combat-drugs-and (accessed 13 July 2017).

[116]    AFP, Annual report 2015–16, 2016, https://www.afp.gov.au/afp-annual-report-2015-16 (accessed 13 July 2017).

[117]    Commander Hill, AFP, Committee Hansard, 24 March 2017, p. 35.

[118]    United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), answers to questions on notice, p. 1 (received 11 April 2017).

[119]    UNODC, answers to questions on notice, p. 1 (received 11 April 2017).

[120]    UNODC, Mekong MOU on Drug Control, https://www.unodc.org/southeastasiaandpacific/en/what-we-do/toc/mou.html (accessed 11 July 2017).

[121]    UNODC, answers to questions on notice, p. 2 (received 11 April 2017).

[122]    UNODC, answers to questions on notice, p. 2 (received 11 April 2017).

[123]    Bangkok Post, Government 'won't legalise' meth', 23 June 2016, http://www.bangkokpost.com/archive/government-wont-legalise-meth/1017337 (accessed 21 July 2017).

[124]    Department of Health (DoH), Submission 98, p. 6.

[125]    DoH, Submission 98, p. 6.

[126]    DoH, Submission 98, p. 6.

[127]    DoH, Submission 98, p. 6.

[128]    UNODC, answers to questions on notice, p. 1 (received 11 April 2017).

[129]    UNODC, answers to questions on notice, p. 1 (received 11 April 2017).

[130]    UNODC, answers to questions on notice, p. 5 (received 11 April 2017).

[131]    UNODC, answers to questions on notice, p. 6 (received 11 April 2017).

[132]    Commander Hill, AFP, Committee Hansard, 24 March 2017, p. 33.

[133]    Detective Superintendent Graham Goodwin, SA Police, Committee Hansard, 28 July 2015, p. 16.

[134]    Dr John Coyne, Submission 92, p. 2.

[135]    Dr Coyne, Submission 92, p. 2.

[136]    Dr Coyne, Submission 92, p. 2.

[137]    Dr Coyne, Submission 92, p. 2.

[138]    Dr Coyne, Submission 92, p. 2.

[139]    Dr Coyne, Submission 92, p. 3.

[140]    Dr Coyne, Submission 92, p. 3.

[141]    Professor Paul Dietze, Deputy Director, Centre for Population Health, Burnet Institute UNSW, Committee Hansard, 9 September 2015, p. 2.

[142]    Professor Dietze, Burnet Institute, Committee Hansard, 9 September 2015, p. 2.

[143]    Professor Dietze, Burnet Institute, Committee Hansard, 9 September 2015, p. 2.

[144]    Professor Dietze, Burnet Institute, Committee Hansard, 9 September 2015, p. 3.

[145]    See Chapter 3 for full list of other supplementary indicators.

[146]    Australian Government, National Drug Strategy (NDS) 2017–2026, p. 42.

[147]    The NDS 2010–2015 notes that there is not a straightforward relationship between price or purity and the success of supply reduction strategies. It provides an example that an increase in the price for an illicit drug may reflect increase in its demand as well as decreases in its supply. To measure its success, the NDS 2010–2015 stated that this measure needed to be interpreted alongside performance measure number one, which dealt with the indicators of drug use. For further information see, NDS 2010–2015, p. 23.

[148]    Australian Government, NDS 2010–2015, p. 23.

[149]    Australian Government, NDS 2010–2015, p. 23.

[150]    Siggins Miller, Evaluation and Monitoring of the National Drugs Strategy 2004–2009 Final Report, 2009, available: http://www.nationaldrugstrategy.gov.au/internet/drugstrategy/Publishing.nsf/content/FD973BE3A786C9B0CA257682000E70DC/$File/eval1.pdf (accessed 4 August 2017), p. 81.

[151]    Siggins Miller, Evaluation and Monitoring of the National Drugs Strategy 2004–2009 Final Report, 2009, available: http://www.nationaldrugstrategy.gov.au/internet/drugstrategy/Publishing.nsf/content/FD973BE3A786C9B0CA257682000E70DC/$File/eval1.pdf (accessed 4 August 2017), p. 81.

[152]    The report also advocated for the monitoring of cannabis potency. See Siggins Miller, Evaluation and Monitoring of the National Drugs Strategy 2004–2009 Final Report, 2009, available: http://www.nationaldrugstrategy.gov.au/internet/drugstrategy/Publishing.nsf/content/FD973BE3A786C9B0CA257682000E70DC/$File/eval1.pdf (accessed 4 August 2017), p. 82.

[153]    Siggins Miller, Evaluation and Monitoring of the National Drugs Strategy 2004–2009 Final Report, 2009, available: http://www.nationaldrugstrategy.gov.au/internet/drugstrategy/Publishing.nsf/content/FD973BE3A786C9B0CA257682000E70DC/$File/eval1.pdf (accessed 4 August 2017), p. 81.

[154]    Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (New Zealand), Tackling Methamphetamine: Progress Report, October 2015, pp 5–6, https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/sites/default/files/2017-03/indicators-and-progress-report-oct2015.pdf (accessed 18 July 2017).

[155]    Siggins Miller, Evaluation and Monitoring of the National Drugs Strategy 2004–2009 Final Report, 2009, available: http://www.nationaldrugstrategy.gov.au/internet/drugstrategy/Publishing.nsf/content/FD973BE3A786C9B0CA257682000E70DC/$File/eval1.pdf (accessed 4 August 2017), p. 81.