A group of law bodies have called time on the Government’s inaction the Ice Inquiry, as the 2.5 year mark approach closer and there’s still crickets from the Government.  

Several key law bodies in NSW have joined forces, calling on the NSW Government to finally address the multi-million dollar inquiry into soaring methamphetamine use across the state. 

President of the Law Society of NSW Joanne van der Plaat has accused the government of only demonstrating a commitment to tackling drugs through ‘locking people up’.

“There is no question that high level drug importers, manufacturers and dealers should be subject to the full force of the law, but the Government’s continuing ‘tough on crime’ approach to drug use is failing,” Ms van der Plaat said. 

“As law enforcement experts told the Inquiry, we can’t arrest our way out of drug problems,” she said. 

While responses to the 109 recommendations of the inquiry have been few and far between - lacking even a response beyond the interim response they published - some introduction underway in Dubbo are set to help the region’s continuing issues with ice.

The NSW Government announced last year that $31.5 million will be invested to expand the NSW Drug Court to Dubbo, which is a specialist court that provides an alternative to prison for people with drug dependencies that have committed crimes. 

At the time of the announcement, NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said the investment would help the local economy.

“We know drug use and crime hurt the economy. Every dollar we spend today on rehabilitation could save double that on band aids for social and economic pain in the future,” Mr Perrottet said in mid-2021. 

Ms van der Plaat said the investment was far from a solution. 

“While these initiatives are welcome, they represent a piecemeal response to barely a handful of the Ice Inquiry’s recommendations.” she said. 

In June, NSW Attorney General Mark Speakman proposed a drug diversion scheme that would see people caught with small amounts of drugs fined $400 rather than be arrested. So far, it is yet to be implemented. 

While the average rate of incidents of possessing amphetamines in towns across the Western Plains almost doubles that of the state average, the rate has decreased in the last year.

While the recorded rate of possession per 100,000 people in Coonamble was 486.3 in the year to March 2021, in the year to March 2022 it dwindled to 128.0. 

Chief Executive Officer of the NSW/ACT Aboriginal Legal Service Karly Warner said the NSW Government is standing in the way of progress by stalling action on the Ice Inquiry’s recommendations. 

“Aboriginal people are paying the price, as we are targeted and ultimately bear the brunt of heavy penalties and imprisonment,” Ms Warner said. 

“Building a fair and evidence-based drug policy for NSW will contribute to closing the gap in imprisonment rates. The Ice Inquiry’s recommendations are a critical first step in that road map to get us there.” 

This weekend marks two and a half years since the inquiry report was presented to the Government. Mr Perrottet has assured for the last few months that he is soon to release a response to the report.