The federal government has announced the formation of a national taskforce to deal with the “growing problem” of ice, saying the drug destroys lives, ravages families and damages communities.

The taskforce will be the first pillar of the government’s national ice action strategy and will be chaired by the former Victorian police commissioner Ken Lay.



The justice minister, Michael Keenan, and the assistant health minister, Fiona Nash, will oversee the government’s response.

“The overall purpose of the taskforce will be to examine all existing efforts to address ice and identify ways to take a systematic, comprehensive and coordinated approach to education, health and law enforcement,” Tony Abbott said.

At a media conference in Sydney on Wednesday, the prime minister signalled that the government was also likely to launch a major public awareness campaign about the dangers of ice.

Abbott said ice was “far more addictive than any other illicit drug”.

“I want to say that as a citizen and as a parent I am appalled at what is happening on our streets and in our homes,” he said.

A report on the ABC’s 7.30 program on Tuesday that pointed to ice use in the navy reinforced the government’s determination “to be absolutely unflinching in the struggle against this dreadful scourge”, he said

Keenan said policing was “very important but we also need to find other ways to work with the community, particularly within the health sector to address this issue”.

Nash said ice was destroying people’s lives and leading to disfigurement, mental illness, psychotic behaviour, aggression and violence. “As I travel around the country, particularly rural and regional areas, it’s becoming increasingly obvious the rapid escalation of the use of this drug,” she said.

Bill Shorten said he would work with the prime minister “to help tackle the menace of ice”.

“Many of the police and experts I speak to say this is a national crisis, and they’re right,” the opposition leader said. “This crisis requires a national approach and I’m pleased Tony Abbott has recognised that.”

The taskforce is expected to provide an interim report by the middle of the year and the prime minister will present it to the Council of Australian Governments meeting shortly afterwards.

Nearly 400,000 people have tried the drug ice, or crystal methamphetamine, in the past year, according to research undertaken by the Australian Crime Commission.

Several transnational crime gangs, as well as Australian outlaw bikie gangs, have been involved in the import and manufacture of the drug, which brings in top dollar in Australia compared with other countries around the world.

“Ice use is a growing problem right around our nation,” the prime minister said. “Ice is ruining individuals, destroying families, and hurting communities.”

Australia has one of the highest rates of usage of methamphetamine in the world, with the crime commission warning that it has become the most damaging challenge facing police.