Drug and alcohol worker Alan Bennett said the taskforce was a good first step, as long as the government built on it and set it up "properly".

"I'd like to see the government actually doing something not the government trying to give the impression that they're doing something," Mr Bennett said.

The taskforce was announced by Prime Minister Tony Abbott on Wednesday.

The initiative will be led by former Victoria Police commissioner Ken Lay in co-operation with federal Justice Minister Michael Keenan and Assistant Health Minister Fiona Nash.

It aims to examine the current efforts to address the issue before a nationwide action strategy is developed.

However, Mr Bennett said a national approach was too broad.

"They should have people from different areas involved not just one big body who says what's best for everybody," he said. "Each area has their own problems, each area is not exactly the same. People are different, they act different."

Mr Bennett said there needed to be communication between the politicians and people in the community.

"I'd like to see them actually talk to the ground people, the rehab managers, health departments, the hospitals... ask them what they think would be a good strategy," he said.

"Who else knows better what's going on?"

However, Mr Bennett said the taskforce showed the government was recognising and accepting there was a problem.

"It's a long time overdue. I don't think that it's too late- it's never too late to do something- it's just going to make the job a hell of a lot harder," he said.

About 60 per cent of the people who are helped by the Orana Haven Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Centre are ice users.

Mr Bennett said there were 21 beds available at the centre but waiting lists extended up to three or four months.