Australia is in the grip of an ice epidemic that's worse than any previous drug problem the nation has faced, Prime Minister Tony Abbott says.
Mr Abbott was in Sydney on Wednesday to announce the formation of a national ice taskforce to look at how to combat the drug, which the prime minister labels "pernicious and evil".
Former Victorian police commissioner Ken Lay will lead the taskforce and assistant Health Minister Fiona Nash and Justice Minister Michael Keenan will oversee its work.
It will report to the prime minister by mid-year.
Addressing media, Mr Abbott said the ice epidemic was the worst drug problem to hit the country.
"This is a drug epidemic way beyond anything that we have seen before now," he said.
"I am determined that right around our country we will take every possible step to combat this dreadful, dreadful scourge."
Mr Abbott said around 400,000 Australians used methamphetamine each year, with 200,000 of those using crystal methamphetamine, commonly known as ice.
He said 25 per cent of meth users were consuming the drug once a week.
The drug was taking "a devastating toll" on communities and had resulted in a "massive increase in crime", Mr Abbott said.
"NSW police statistics show that over the last couple of years there's been a 25 per cent increase in ice related arrests and detections," he said.
"There are massive quantities of this pernicious and evil drug coming into our country all the time."
He said, along with law enforcement attacking supply, the taskforce would look at how to dent demand for the drug.
"The best way to reduce demand is to alert the community to the fact that while there might be a momentary high there is a lifetime of pain and suffering if you get caught up in the ice culture," Mr Abbott said.
