Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has backed a promised crackdown on the drug trade from the South Australian opposition, including a pledge to eradicate ice and "drive this drug out of the hands of our children".
SA Opposition Leader Steven Marshall outlined his proposals at the party's annual meeting in Adelaide on Saturday, including a pledge to send police sniffer dogs into state schools, if the Liberals win the state election in March.
Mr Turnbull told the gathering he was inspired by the passion expressed by Mr Marshall and his desire to tackle the "shocking, miserable menace" that is crystal methamphetamine.
"The scourge of methamphetamine use in Australia is a problem we are determined to eradicate," Mr Turnbull said.
"The drug destroys families, it breeds violence, it creates a circle of grief that ruins communities"
Mr Marshall said drug abuse was a major factor contributing to crime, family breakdowns, lost productivity and broken opportunities, and ice was the most significant, emerging drug to hit Australian communities.
He said ice use in South Australia was the second highest in the nation and a state Liberal government would do everything possible to tackle the issue.
As well as cracking down on organised crime gangs selling drugs, the opposition leader's proposal includes more health and rehabilitation services for addicts and more education programs.
A Liberal government would also tackle the drug trade within jails by banning bikies from visits and introducing drug testing for prison officers and other staff.
But the most controversial part of the plan involves allowing police dogs into state schools to detect drugs, including a move to target locker rooms and bags.
"We won't be sniffing individual classrooms and students when they are present," Mr Marshall said.
"But we will go into locker rooms, we will inspect bags and we will do every single thing we possibly can.
"This will be compulsory in our state schools and we invite the private schools to also opt in."
