There is a simple guaranteed solution to the drug problem in Australia.
It requires two processes to occur.
First we need political will to create the legal framework necessary to achieve the required outcomes.
Secondly we need a robust and proactive law enforcement process.
The drug empires work on a simple pyramid plan of action.
At the bottom of the pyramid there are the users, mainly addicts
The second level is the street dealers who supply the addicts
The third level is the street level suppliers who feed the street dealers.
The fourth level is the street wholesalers who supply the street suppliers.
As the levels of activity increase so too do the numbers of participants decrease and the profits increase.
The fifth level is the bulk wholesalers that supply the street wholesalers.
The sixth level is the importers and manufactures who supply the bulk wholesalers.
The seventh level is the growers, cartels and laboratories
The apex level is the financers who reap the major profits.
So what is the answer?
Simple:
First you legislate to force people to answer truthfully. (Much the same as a Royal Commission)
Then you arrest the users and addicts and you force them to tell where they are getting supplies.
Then you arrest the second level street dealers and you coerce them into telling you where they get their supplies.
And so on up the supply pyramid until you reach the top level.
Problem solved.
However it is not so easy because you find that at the top level there interested parties that will not want to be publicly identified. Many of them will be so called upstanding members of the community.
They will lobby politicians, parliaments and police to protect their identities and their profits.

First of all we have to get a Prime minister like Duterte in the Philippines & put his Action Plan into action.

Your plan won't work. You'll find many people would rather go to prison than answer truthfully.

Also I think you've misunderstood the shape of the industry. There are rarely so many levels and in terms of profitability, the growers are never on a par with the cartels. I don't think the labs are either.

If you really want to kill the drug empires, the best solution is to enable the legal supply of drugs so that nobody has to resort to the illegal system. But politically that's too hard because it's seen as encouraging drug use.

I am with Aiden. There are few Mr Bigs or big gangs. Mostly it is chaotic criminals who waste the money and do drugs themselves.
It would make more sense to offer daily Stupor or elation to the addicts.
The only proviso should be that they practice birth control. It would cost very little and divert all the profit from drugs.
Let's do it!

chrisgaff1000,

Agreed.

General comment
A useful article,
http://www.smh.com.au/national/health/behind-australias-love-affair-with-illicit-drugs-20150424-1msnzz.html

However organised or disorganised the drug business, and however many levels, this suggestion falls over at the first step. It's not possible to legislate to make people tell the truth. Royal commissions can't do that, even torture can't do that.
The only method is legislation, regulation and a really serious approach to treatment and rehabilitation. You don't want more regulation? Well put up with the illegal trade and its terrible consequences, it's the ultimate free enterprise market.

Former Queensland Premier Campbell Newman, a gutsy Duntroon graduate, braved threats against himself and family to bring in the Vicious Lawless Association Disestablishment Act 2013 (VLAD). VLAD was enacted to 'severely punish members of criminal organisations that commit serious offences'. That it did well, gathering heaps of intel, discouraging gang membership and resulting in OMG members fleeing the Sunshine State.

Labor and Greens made it their mission to geld the VLAD and to deep six it ASAP, all against the wishes of police, businesses and the public. That they did and the OMGs were quick to assume implied continuing support from Labor and Greens and don't tire of telling Labor Premier Palaszczuk that she owes them for government.

Immediately Palaszczuk was able to elbow her way to government, the gangs grew in Queensland and new gangs from around the world came to get some of the action.

http://e2nz.org/2016/02/24/the-vlads-new-zealands-tough-backstreet-gangs-gain-a-foothold-in-australia-as-families-intimidated/

Recently, on the NSW/Qld border, a common incident,
http://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/news/crime-court/bikie-shot-killed-as-gang-war-escalates-on-tweed/news-story/09b83b7b23bb49d7a5227bde3d7d22d6?nk=75668604d13b637b1516d33318f4179b-1503978621

Aiden: the best solution is to enable the legal supply of drugs so that nobody has to resort to the illegal system.

If they overdose they are on their own, any medical intervention from the Emergency Services, Police or Hospital has to be paid for by the Drugee, not the Medical Benefits or Government.

JBowyer: There are few Mr Bigs or big gangs.

The Mr Bigs are "very" high up in the Legal Profession & can't be touched.

Hi there CHRISGAFF1000...

A noble exercise to be sure. One that might just work. But, It was your last paragraph that best explained the reasoning behind the 'But'? Political will, support from the rich and powerful? Even strong support from the leaders of organised Religion - The Catholic Church, Anglican Church, maybe, even the heads of the Muslim faith? Anyone with 'any' political clout.

I'm in the process of reading a second book by Don WINSLOW titled 'The Cartel' and it's predecessor, 'The Power of the Dog' both deal with Washington's interdiction of Cocaine and other major drug importation from Mexico, into the United States, and tell of this DEA Agent's many attempts to interrupt it. If one ever needed a lesson of true corruption, both sides of the US/Mexican border, one would only need to read the first 100 or so pp's of either book, to understand just how high corruption goes, either side of the veritable Rio Grande.

The first strata of your plan '... political will...' is where the whole idea will unassailably tumble down? And you Chris, more so than I, would undoubtably know why?

A brilliant 'IDEA' from an honest man. Who regrettably, will witness that 'IDEA' being scuttled by a group of dishonourable, corrupt and treacherous men and women. Many of whom will hold, and have held, high political appointments, of which they're all sworn, to faithfully uphold!

Sorry Chris, you know as well as I do, the corruption that lies quietly right at the very top!

o sung wu,
I am amazed at the number of contributors to this forum that actively appear to support the drug hierarchy.
By denying proactive frontal attacks on these under-miners of social cohesion and suggesting legal drug
supermarkets as an alternate is both idiotic and minority pandering.
Drug testing for the dole is a great step forward but the fact that positive tests will not result in police
involvement is ridiculous.
If I get caught with drugs in my system when am am driving it is an offense against the laws of the land
so why not an offense when gaining public largess.
Do we live in such a dream world that we believe people who use their dole to buy drugs actually have
enough cash to support their habits.
Crap!
They need more and that comes mainly from criminal activities.
Sorry but I believe direct action is far better that soft pussy footing around the problem.

ChrisGaff Firstly you have had years and years of proactive policing without even slowing down the problem. Look at the total balls up of the US Prohibition law. That financed crime and gave boundless corruption.
It just does not work! We might as well try something new as keep making the problem worse.
Personally I think if we can ensure druggies do not breed and we give them drugs then the problem will die out.
Oh one thing, no more rehabilitation BS, just let them slide into oblivion.

//If I get caught with drugs in my system when am am driving it is an offense against the laws of the land
so why not an offense when gaining public largess.//

Will be testing everybody else living off the taxpayer, or just the work-shy dole bludging scum? I saw a report the other day that said cocaine use is on the rise, particularly in Canberra.

Coke is a rich man's drug. I doubt there's many on the dole that could afford it. Now politicians on the other hand...

Although I don't think they should test Malcolm Roberts, the Senator for the Village of the Damned. I don't think their instruments would be able to take the strain.

If anyone is caught with drugs they must be made to consume the lot right there & them & left to it. Duterte has the right idea. No excuses, Bang! end of that problem.

TL: Malcolm Roberts, the Senator for the Village of the Damned.

Now you mention it, he does look like the blond boy in the Poster. Great Movie that.

Hi there CHRISGAFF1000...

I'm sorry to disappoint you, by appearing (prima facie) that I'm not on your side? That would be so far from the truth it wouldn't even be funny. I know what you mean by a direct frontal attack, by playing the hard game, and taking it right up to the corrupt bastards who luxuriate in the many clubs and other 'closed' institutions available only to the super rich and the politically powerful?

Cast your mind back to the infamous 'Wall' opposite St Vincent Hospital, behind the old Central Criminal Court Buildings. A place where young 'willing' boys linger in the hope some rich poofter would pay his price and have his way with the kid? A certain member of the judiciary at the highest level was caught and given up by his driver. Caught, absolutely on the nose. A major disgrace for the arrogant Judiciary.

What happened Chris? Nothing precisely nought, mistaken identity, or some such rot? Now that's an illustration of the 'ambit of political power' being displayed for all to see? Need I say more. You'd never manage to get one of these sleazes into court, let alone jump the box? Sorry ol' fella, them's are the facts I'm afraid. Take it easy.

OSW: Now that's an illustration of the 'ambit of political power' being displayed for all to see?

Like I said previously. The Mr Bigs are "very" high up in the Legal Profession & you'll never be able to pin anything on them.

Jayb,

All it needs is research of the big swinging knobs who were desperate to unseat former Queensland Premier Campbell Newman, who brought in the successful Vicious Lawless Association Disestablishment Act 2013 (VLAD). Then follow the leads to those behind and then behind them again.

Campbell Newman also 'short-fronted' senior police on the Gold Coast for example, who had become too close to office bearers of the outlaw motorcycle gangs. Those senior police excused their familiarity with the notorious gang figures, claiming that it might reduce gang on gang violence, actually helping gangs establish and hold drug territory and turning a blind eye to the notorious crime figures who ran clubs where drugs are distributed to youth, and cocaine and other recreational drugs to the well-off white collar professionals, lawyers and others.

Why is it that apart from Campbell Newman, senior Australian politicians, Premiers and PMs, their retinues of senior public servants and Police Commissioners too, don't take any of the advice and legal and financial instruments of the FBI, who are arguably some of the best in the world where intercepting drugs and gangs is concerned?

Why do they, politicians, fudge around with window dressing like Howard's ineffective and costly 'gun control', sooling police onto ordinary duly licensed citizens and wasting millions on white elephant 'gun registries' (that don't list illegal weapons of criminals, the sawn-off shotgun that killed the infant girl), instead of dong the hard yards on the money trail and cooperating fully and long-term among Australian police jurisdictions?

Could the untraceable millions being made daily from drugs explain any of that?

For years The Courier Mail has been detailing the tip of the iceberg where organised crime in Queensland is concerned. An example,

"Cashed-up drug dealing criminal’s execution adds to Queensland’s unsolved underbelly
David Murray, The Courier-Mail
May 18, 2014
A CAREER criminal is suspected to have been cashed-up and meeting someone he knew for a drug deal when he was gunned down at an isolated Logan boat ramp.

Investigators have found Julian Neuendorf was connected to the high-level trade of heroin and ice before his execution-style murder in November 2012...

The murder is among a wave of slayings in Queensland that have drug connections, reflecting an era of extreme underworld violence.

Other drug-related cases still under investigation include the murders of Jack Lee, John Lazzaro, Sultan Alamri and Chantal Barnett and Robert Martinez.

It has also been revealed that Brisbane chef Peter Milos, who was bashed to death this month, had extensive family connections to organised crime and was facing charges relating to ice, weapons and drug dealing.

The Neuendorf investigation, codenamed Operation Kilo Alaska, has led police to a hoard of cash, guns, drugs and drug-production equipment.

Police found Neuendorf was linked to several safe deposit boxes at Reserve Vault Australia, a high security storage facility in Brisbane’s CBD. When detectives arrived at the heavily fortified complex they found Neuendorf’s safe contained a small amount of collectable coins.

Another safe contained $748,250 in cash, which has been seized as suspected proceeds of crime.

A Storage King Cleveland shed was found with almost $432,000 in cash, a double barrel shotgun and a 9mm pistol.

Another storage facility contained glassware typically used in the production of heroin and amphetamines.

Neuendorf, 38, was an armed robber in the 1990s who was known by the nickname “Pixie” and had a history of violence.

He was severely assaulted before being shot numerous times and dumped in the Logan River near the Henderson Park boat ramp between about 7pm and 9pm on November 1, 2012."
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/cashedup-drug-dealing-criminals-execution-adds-to-queenslands-unsolved-underbelly/news-story/d591bc88c8fa650dca565c44ebb13773

Dear Chris,

Drug-dealers and government: it's hard to tell which of the two is worse.

But one thing is sure: I don't want to be caught in between while they war each other.

Your proposal is extremely likely to catch in its net also many innocent people, for any addict or street-dealer could name me and you as their suppliers.

So thanks, but no thanks.

Hi there JAYB...

Very occasionally they'll nail a Mr Big, generally it's a pretty rare event I'm reluctant to say. In my 32 years I can honestly say a legitimate Mr Big has never toppled, even in our sister States; of Victoria and Queensland. Sure VICPOL got MOCKBEL,and that was a nice pinch no doubt, but a Mr Big, those at the very top who orchestrate and determines what's what? Unfortunately, you just don't see it. Sure most detectives can name a few of these so called Mr Bigs, but knowing something, and later proving it in Court, well...?

The author of the Topic CHRISGAFF1000 is a retired copper (Detective) of considerable adroitness and policing experience in his chosen profession, and a Vietnam Veteran. But you'd need a dozen CHRIS'S in the police, plus a dozen like minded senior politicians, even to make a definitive dent in these matters. Still one can only hope, who knows what the future may bring?

To defeat most organised crime;

(a) One must first inveigle and if necessary, coerce, compel, even threaten our political master's to fully back the police and not allow those of them who're already suspect, to hide behind some inchoate offence that he can easily wriggle away from;

(b) And one of the most difficult areas - The Judiciary a power unto itself. Independent of the politicians, often appointed for life, and by far the most cunning of the entire trio of law enforcement; and perhaps the most difficult of all to persuade, to support police in these matters?

(c) Turn our prison, our gaols, back into a place of strict discipline, with privileges that must be earned and continued to be earned, otherwise they lose them? So much crime is organised and dictated from maximum security gaols. Gaol is a hotbed of crime, especially drugs. Where all the various talents are grouped together and able to conspire for the common purpose. And collude and conspire they do JAYB, believe me.

Kids simply need good role models: greed is their role model these days!

Disillusionment is what leads people to drugs... as a labour voter I must say I do support the Libs attempts to do something in the way of drug testing those on the dole! It sends the right message and this is the kind of role model that kids need to get through their growing up process in one piece.

Drugs are scary: every family knows bad things and it hurts so much so I do congratulate the Libs on this point.

This country needs to find it's heart and soul again: so well done to the Libs on a very important issue that impacts real lives. Of course general law and order issues can't go badly at election time but this is attacking the problem from a different angle and deserves credit for its real ambition.

Hopefully it will save lives and bring more piece and less fear to the streets of this country as this whole world seems to be coming under the grip of this problem in a more and more real way each day: society needs to find a solution and by reaching for proper solutions and showing our young that we really do care for their welfare then the business model fails for the dark side and the light side wins.

If we have kids we must look after them... I see this as a very positive move as the kids learn by what we do! It's the role of the role model!

Once again: It's the role of the role model!!