DRAMATIC changes to drug laws in New South Wales for trafficking ice are over the top, according to a retired magistrate.
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Burnie drug rehabilitation advocate Don Jones, who retired as a magistrate last year, said the changes, which could see low-level ice traffickers jailed for life, were not addressing the problem.
But Mr Jones said the Tasmanian government must do more rather than waiting for some committee to solve the problem.
Changes to drug laws in NSW on Tuesday will see individuals who possess more than 500 grams of ice charged with dealing or manufacturing the drug rather than possession of the illegal drug.
The penalty for this is life imprisonment and fines of up to $500,000.
Tasmanian laws stipulate that a person charged with trafficking drugs can receive a prison sentence of up to 21 years.
While Mr Jones said there was a need for tougher penalties on ice traffickers, he said New South Wales' reaction was excessive.
With the trafficking threshold being different for each jurisdiction, Mr Jones said there was a need for uniformity across the country.
However, rather than putting people in jail for ice trafficking or usage, Mr Jones said judges should be able to order people into rehabilitation.
"It's no good saying we are going to jail people without helping them get off the drug," he said.
Tasmanian Attorney-General Vanessa Goodwin said the National Ice Taskforce was considering a range of responses to tackle ice usage.
"We will consider any recommendations made in relation to further legal responses," Dr Goodwin said.
Mr Jones said this response was not adequate.
"All too often they send issues off to a committee to consider the problem and you don't hear anything happening," he said.
"We know there's a problem, there is an epidemic and it's getting worse. We need to take action now and take steps to stop it."
"The longer we leave it, the worse this problem is going to become."