The price rise was nothing more than a co-ordinised reaction to the government's huge increase in welfare payments. The controlling criminal organisations rightly presumed that the majority of meth (ice) users would reluctantly fork over their bonuses in return for the same amount as usual.
In Sydney the cost for 1/2 an 8 ball (1.75g) doubled from $350 to $700 although this fluctuated up to $1000 early on as users attempted to get on the right side of the rort.
As for it being a good thing..... C'mon and smell the roses. Even after the welfare payments returned to normal the prices were not, due to the realisation that many users were "mentally fixed in" to the high prices and profits were huge. Even when the big boys partially dropped prices some local dealers decided it was their time to make some money and didn't pass on the reduction.
What this meant was children not getting fed, crime increasing, cut product and all the other horrors that appear when users struggle with the cost of their habit. This is not a good thing it's a nightmare.