Dangerous drugs breed dangerous thugs

Tackling both has become priority

For far too long, people have had to put up with excessive noise, danger, and intimidation from boy racers. High-powered cars and younger drivers have created a lethal combination on our roads.

A culture of dangerous driving has evolved, putting lives at risk and this culture has pushed some communities to the very edge of their tolerance limit.

The National-led Government has moved quickly to show that this dangerous, disruptive, antisocial behaviour will not be tolerated.

Less than six months ago, we introduced two bills to strengthen the laws around illegal street racing and give police greater powers to deal with it.

Through public submissions, you made it clear you supported these bills and last month we passed these into law.

The Land Transport (Enforcement Powers) Amendment Act allows councils to make bylaws to stop cars cruising the city and suburbs. This legislation significantly increases demerit points for illegal street-racing offences and closes loopholes in the law, which have allowed boy racers to get away with ignoring fines.

The Vehicle Confiscation and Seizure legislation introduces a suite of changes including the ultimate sanction of sending cars driven by repeat offenders to the crusher.

We are taking a similar tough approach when it comes to tackling the dangerous and addictive drug methamphetamine, or “P.”

This drug is hugely damaging to those who take it and the people who share their lives. It comes hand in hand with violence, allows gangs, organised crime to flourish, and entices young people into crime.

National is attacking P from all directions, cracking down on precursor chemicals used to make P, breaking supply chains, supporting families and communities, strengthening leadership and accountability and providing better routes into treatment.

The main precursor chemical for P – pseudoephedrine – can be bought over a pharmacy counter in a range of cold and flu medications. Up to a third of P labs busted by police each year have used cold and flu medication.

There is a clinically safe alternative for cold and flu relief, phenylephrine.

It is already used in up to three quarters of our cold and flu medications, and can be bought over the counter.

That is why we are making pseudoephedrine a prescription only drug.

We are also coming down on gangs and organised crime syndicates who peddle P.

Customs is establishing dedicated anti-drug taskforces aimed at increasing seizures of P and its precursors at the border.

We are giving police more tools to intercept gang communications, dismantle gang fortifications, and take drug profits from criminals and use them to fund anti-P initiatives.

National is also committed to reducing demand for P, helping addicts quit, and deterring new users. 

We are investing $22 million extra over the next three years to help over 3000 extra drug addicts receive treatment and rehabilitation.

These measures will make a difference for hundreds of families and help make our community safer.