In a move that will see local drug makers and suppliers put before the courts more often, Premier Daniel Andrews on Monday announced an “emergency intervention” which will also see a new taskforce developed to tackle the crisis. 

Under the plan, anyone caught trafficking ice to school students would face harsh new penalties, as would those caught publishing instructions to manufacture ice and anyone who allowed the use of a premise for manufacturing or trafficking. 

The announcement comes after The Courier in June reported children as young as 10 were abusing the devastating methamphetamine. 

Local drug treatment agencies praised the announcement on Monday, with UnitingCare saying changes were desperately needed. 

Alcohol and other drugs program manager Peter Cranage said dealers were targeting the younger market and new laws were needed to fight such action. 

“The range of new offences are a great idea and the government should be congratulated for that,” Mr Cranage said.

“The penalties need to be harsh if you are caught committing such an offence, too, because they (dealers) are selling to kids who don’t even know the effect ice is having on them.”

Mr Cranage said users were getting “younger and younger” and that a new taskforce would help relay messages from local agencies back to government. 

Ballarat Clarendon College principal David Shepherd agreed new laws were needed to protect young men and women. 

“Any law that further protects young people has got to be productive,” he said.

The Premier said the new “ice action taskforce” would examine ways to reduce the demand, supply and harm of the drug, while an “ice action plan” would be produced within 100 days. 

“We’ll confront this crisis on our streets and at its source, and find solutions that make our communities safer,” Mr Andrews said. 

“We need to get to the heart of the problem and listen to the experts who see the effects of this tragedy every single day.”

The Premier will chair the 16-member taskforce, alongside legal, police, mental health, youth, community, Aboriginal and drug support representatives. 

Mr Andrews said the taskforce would work to support users’ family members and frontline workers who are confronted with the crisis daily.

patrick.byrne@fairfaxmedia.com.au