DEALERS who sell the drug ice to students near schools could be jailed for 20 years, if Labor wins November’s Victorian election.
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The Opposition Leader, Daniel Andrews, yesterday said Labor would introduce new penalties in a crackdown on the spread of ice.
He said those who published or possessed instructions to make ice could be jailed for a maximum of 25 years jail and those allowing a premise to be used for trafficking or manufacturing faced up to 15 years in jail.
It would also be an offence to make threats that resulted in someone selling ice.
The member for Benambra, Bill Tilley, said the Coalition had strengthened sentencing laws to increase the average penalty for drug dealers.
“A lot of these are not much different to what is already in place,” he said.
“Trafficking anywhere needs to be dealt with in the harshest of terms.
“Those who sell near or in a school — it doesn’t matter.
“I agree with Mr Andrews that we have a serious ice problem, but a lot of the work has been done by this government.”
The Labor candidate for Benambra Jennifer Podesta said she would like more focus on the underlying issues that lead to drug abuse such as unemployment, mental health issues and access to education.
“We need to be careful when we address this issue,” she said. “We need to target those who benefit from this, rather than the victims.”
Mr Andrews also pledged $15 million more for booze and drug-testing buses, and $500,000 to fight the scourge of ice in regional areas.
“The ice epidemic has absolutely got away from all of us,” Mr Andrews said.
“We need to acknowledge it is out of control and that it is wrecking lives, destroying families. It is causing so much pain in communities across this state.
“I want to begin the long road back to taking control of this issue.”
A taskforce would be established within 100 days of Labor winning office to find new ways to tackle the issue.
The Attorney-General Robert Clark said Mr Andrews’ policy was covered by existing laws, but be admitted some laws could be improved.
“If it’s not covered under a law, we’re more than happy to look at it,” Mr Clark said.
He said trafficking a drug of dependence to a child already carried a maximum penalty of 20 years jail.
