Media Release, Acting Minister for Police Robin Scott: New Laws Tighten Net On Drug Dealers And Protect Kids

11 February 2016

Minister for Police and emergency services

Media Release

Ice dealers who peddle drugs to children in or near schools will spend up to 25 years in prison under new laws to clamp down on drug suppliers and dealers.

The Victorian Parliament today passed the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Amendment Bill 2015, which introduces seven new drug offences that give police additional powers to arrest criminals involved in the supply and manufacture of illicit drugs.

These new laws send a clear message that drug dealing around schools is an especially serious crime and peddlers who do it deserve to be held to full account.

Under the new laws, anyone who traffics drugs to a child at a school or in a public place within 500m of a school will face up to 25 years in jail.

Specific offences will also now make it illegal to:

traffic illicit drugs to anyone, or supply illicit drugs to a child, at a school or in a public place within 500m of a school (up to 20 years’ jail)

use violence or threats to force someone to traffic illicit drugs (up to 5 years’ jail)

possess instructions for trafficking or cultivating illicit drugs (up to 5 years’ jail)

publish instructions for trafficking or cultivating illicit drugs (up to 10 years’ jail)

intentionally allow a property to be used for trafficking or cultivation (up to 5 years’ jail)

The Andrews Labor Government has taken strong action to reduce the harm caused by ice and to hold to account those responsible for manufacturing and dealing this deadly drug.

The Government’s $45.5 million Ice Action Plan also provides additional support for families, treatment for users and funding to protect frontline workers.

Victoria Police has also been given additional forensics staff to help police close clandestine labs, as well as a new drug and booze bus fleet and more drug-drive tests.

Quotes attributable to Acting Minister for Police Robin Scott

“Ice is an insidious drug – we are taking action against those who profit from its misery, while providing better treatment for users.”

“While we can’t simply arrest our way out of the ice problem, these new laws will give police tougher powers to catch anyone involved in the drug trade.”