The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (14:34): I seek leave to make an explanation before asking a
question of the Minister for Police, in his capacity as chair of the Ice Taskforce.
Leave granted.
The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: A document entitled 'Stop the hurt: South Australian Ice Action
Plan', which was released on the 15th of this month, is a three-page document. One of the dot points
under the title 'New Measures' states the following:
undertaking a Crime Stoppers campaign to encourage South Australians to assist law enforcement in
identifying and stopping drug dealers.
The last so-called Dob in a Dealer campaign was launched last year in the Riverland on 4 May as a
whole-of-community response and that Dob in a Dealer campaign was specifically aimed at stopping
the manufacture and supply of drugs. My questions for the minister are:
1. When did the campaign that was launched last May end?
2. Why did that campaign end?
3. As a result, how many dealers were dobbed in and how much was paid as rewards
from the campaign?
The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS (Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services,
Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety) (14:35): I thank the honourable
member for her question. She is quite right to refer to the fact that the state government, only last
week, formally announced our response to the Ice Taskforce effort. It is something that I am rather
proud of. I think it is a package that does not purport to solve the ice problem that exists within our
community, but it certainly is a package that will go some way to addressing the issues that we heard
right around the state.
One of the things that came through loud and clear through the ice forums that we conducted
throughout the state was the indiscriminate nature of this drug. It was clear that this drug affects
everybody. It doesn't really matter if you come from a regional area or metropolitan Adelaide, it
doesn't really matter if you come from a working-class or a middle-class background, it doesn't matter
if you are employed or unemployed, this drug can strike.
One of the things we want to do through the Ice Taskforce is to get the balance right between
an approach to deal with the supply side of the equation but also have an approach to deal with the
demand side of the equation. The demand side of the equation is all about treatment and services,
providing support networks to family members to be able to better help loved ones, particularly
children, deal with addiction. On the supply side of the equation, try to disrupt the distribution of this
insidious drug into the community.
The Hon. Ms Lensink refers to the Dob in a Dealer campaign. She is right to do that. It is a
$200,000 investment, from memory, that goes to Crime Stoppers. Crime Stoppers is a separate
entity to SAPOL, but is nevertheless a not-for-profit, non-government organisation that has an
excellent collaborative working relationship with SAPOL. I know SAPOL is very grateful for the work
that Crime Stoppers does because it does provide incredibly useful information when it comes to
tackling crime.
The Dob in a Dealer campaign will be conducted by Crime Stoppers—as I said, a $200,000
investment. We see that Dob in a Dealer campaign operating throughout the state. It does not
necessarily specifically focus on one particular geographical location. Regarding the more specific
elements of the Hon. Ms Lensink's question regarding the Dob in a Dealer campaign conducted in
the Riverland, I am sure she will understand that I do not have the specific statistics regarding the Riverland campaign. I am more than happy to take that on notice and get that information for the
honourable member as quickly as we reasonably can.
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