Nash to address ice issue at HortCon

However, she will face that scenario tomorrow, when addressing the National Horticulture Convention on the Gold Coast in Queensland, hosted by Ausveg and Apple and Pear Australia.

Senator Nash will warn about the lack of availability of seasonal workers which is impacting fruit and vegetable growers and a problem that’s made worse by drug use in the workplace.

Senator Nash has been integral to the Coalition government’s implementation of the National Ice Taskforce Chaired by former Victorian Chief Commissioner of Police Ken Lay.

The Taskforce also comprises rural health specialists Professor Richard Murray from Queensland and Dr Sally McCarthy from NSW.

Its aim is to examine existing efforts to address ice and identify ways to take a comprehensive and coordinated approach to education, health and law enforcement.

Informed by the Taskforce and its consultations, the National Ice Action Strategy will be presented to the Council of Australian Governments – which comprises all states and territories – to consider and act upon before the end of 2015.

Senator Nash said the Taskforce had consulted in every state and territory – but she also wanted to ensure rural and regional Australia was heard on this issue.

“I organised my own tour of Australia, visiting 10 regional destinations and covering 26,000km,” she said.

“The results of these community discussions were fed into the National Ice Taskforce.”

Senator Nash said she had recently been told stories about farm employees being on ice and recent media reports say a horticulture business has taken to testing employees for illicit drugs after suspecting some contract employees were using drugs such as ice.

“This illustrates the complex issues faced by employers that go well beyond shortage of labour,” she said.

“There’s anecdotal evidence about problems in Victoria’s fruit picking region – from Mildura to Shepparton – and in Gippsland.

“The demographic of seasonal workers – young, backpackers who are often a very long way from home and feel vulnerable, adds to the problem.

“The lack of availability of seasonal workers is impacting fruit and vegetable growers – a problem made worse by drug use in the workplace.”

Senator Nash said ice is crystal methamphetamine or the powder form of the same substance – commonly known as “speed”.

She said most of the ingredients are toxic and flammable, hence the news stories about secret ice labs exploding from time to time.

Senator Nash said ice also typically contains many chemicals found on a farm including; acetone, found in paint thinner; lithium, from batteries; and Anhydrous ammonia found in fertiliser.

“After being “cooked” in an enclosed area, the fumes form crystals - the substance sells for anywhere between $300 and $1000 a gram, though it is often sold in “points” – 0.1 grams or one tenth of a gram,” she said.

“The crystals are typically smoked through a pipe or injected after being combined or “cooked” with fluid.

“Some users become hooked extremely quickly as the ice floods the dopamine and serotonin receptors – which would normally make you feel good after exercise or good conversation, giving you a “natural” high – to the point the receptors become dulled and require more and more serotonin or dopamine to feel good.

“At the same time, the body ceases creating serotonin and dopamine because it’s getting it from an outside source.”

But Senator Nash said ice literally breaks down pathways between neurons in the brain which can grow back, but the process typically takes nine months.

“In that time many people are too depressed to work or function - some commit suicide,” she said.

“Ice users feel no compulsion to eat or sleep and often present at emergency departments having gone days without food or rest.

“Ice causes psychosis and long term psychological issues and is linked to violent attacks, assaults, road accidents and burglaries.”