Queensland residents draws to the attention of the House that methamphetamine contaminated properties are becoming more prevalent. It was reported in a Courier Mail online news story dated 13 August 2023 a building inspection group conducted about 150 meth tests per month and 16 per cent of properties they had tested were positive for methamphetamine contamination. That equates to about 1 in 6 homes tested being positive for methamphetamine contamination.

The ‘Australian Clandestine Drug Laboratory Remediation Guidelines 2011' states under 0.5µg methamphetamine per 100 cm2 being acceptable level of contamination. 

In August 2020 a document was published titled 'Environmental Methamphetamine Exposures and Health Effects in 25 Case Studies'. This case study identified that residing in properties with low levels close to the 0.5µg methamphetamine can represent a serious public health risk. Some of the health risks included behavioural effects or issues, sleep issues, respiratory effects, headaches, skin and eye effects.

Your petitioners, therefore, request the House to support a public enquiry into the dangers of living in methamphetamine contaminated housing, support and/or update relevant Queensland state, federal legislations and the Clandestine Drug Laboratory Remediation Guidelines 2011. Make mandatory what is currently only voluntary set of guidelines, ensure legislation and affordable insurance policies are available to adequately protect tenants and landlords so properties can be made safe from this dangerous chemical, and make liable any person/s if they contaminate a property with methamphetamine or other product that renders it unsafe.