SA wants to lead war on ice

South Australia wants to lead the way on nationally consistent laws to tackle the growing problem with the drug ice.

Police Minister Peter Malinauskas will ask federal Justice Minister Michael Keenan to appoint SA to take charge of developing nationally consistent regulations.

"Ice use has grown at a rapid rate across Australia and is causing more damage than any other illicit drug in history," Mr Malinauskas said.

The regulations controlling chemicals used in the production of ice vary across Australia.

Since 2014, the Law, Crime and Community Safety Committee has been working to introduce a national regulatory regime and will meet again in Melbourne on Friday.

Mr Malinauskas said South Australian police had already undertaken a comprehensive review of cross-jurisdictional controls on precursor chemicals and were ready to develop and trial regulations that could be adopted at a national level.

"Blocking the availability of chemicals is critical to reducing the volume of ice available on our streets," the minister said.

"Today I will be calling on the federal justice minister to appoint SA to lead the development of new laws, which will significantly hinder the methamphetamine supply chain.

"Disabling the manufacture of ice means that less of the drug will be available, prices will rise, further reducing consumption."