❓ Mr Hort questions the Minister for Police about funding for methamphetamine initiatives given high consumption rates. The Minister responds by highlighting overall lower illicit drug consumption rates and increased police resources, avoiding a direct answer about specific new initiatives.
AnsweredQoN 266Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Methamphetamine—Funding initiatives
266. Mr Adam Hort to
the Minister for Police:
I refer to the
latest wastewater drug testing, which shows that Western Australia has the
highest rate of amphetamine consumption in the country, alongside South
Australia—WA's worst result since the program began. Can the minister confirm
that no new initiatives are funded in the recent budget to tackle the rising
scourge of methamphetamines?
266. Mr Adam Hort to
the Minister for Police:
I refer to the
latest wastewater drug testing, which shows that Western Australia has the
highest rate of amphetamine consumption in the country, alongside South
Australia—WA's worst result since the program began. Can the minister confirm
that no new initiatives are funded in the recent budget to tackle the rising
scourge of methamphetamines?
AnswerView source ↗
Before I respond to
the question, I want to express the condolences of the government on the
passing of a woman police officer. The police have just announced that a 54-year-old
woman police officer, who was on her way to work, has passed away in a road
crash. It is a sobering reminder to everyone about the serious consequences of
the way that we behave on the roads. I am not going to make any further
comments on this matter, but I think it is a very sad day for the Western
Australia Police Force. We remember that the men and women in blue do a very
dangerous job every day, whether through the issues they confront or simply in getting
to work. We should all spare a moment to reflect on that very sad news.
The member talked
about the testing, which is done across the nation. I can reveal that, in fact,
in overall drug consumption, Western Australia has one of the lowest figures in
consumption of illicit drugs. That comes through consistently through those
tests. We are high in use of methamphetamine and that might be a reflection of the
demographics of our state and our earning potential, but across the board, and
in a more general overall sense, the amount of other illicit drugs being
detected is lower for the financial year to date.
I also have to talk
about the good work that our police are doing on serious and organised crime in
exercising search warrants, tough anti-bikie laws and the detection of drugs. For
the four main types of drugs—methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin and MDMA—Western
Australia remained below the national average of consumption per year. WA makes
up about 11% of Australia's population, and a lower figure for drug consumption
has been discovered through this water-testing process for those four drug
types. The member asked about what we are doing. What we are doing is funding
more and more police, having record numbers of police throughout Western Australia, funding equipment and resources
that make them amongst—no, it makes them the most effective law enforcement
operation in the country. At a time when other police forces around the country
are suffering from attrition, ours continues to grow. There has been an
increase of nearly 1,000 police in Western Australia since we took government.
Our overall crime rate in Western Australia is lower than it was 10 years ago.
It peaked in 2016. That was a high point and the crime rate has fallen ever
since. Our crime rate has fallen by around 20% since Labor has been in
government.
Mr Adam Hort interjected.
Mr Reece Whitby: These are the facts that are
uncomfortable for members opposite, but it is true the Cook government—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members, thank you.
Mr Reece Whitby: The Cook government has supported our
police force like no other government in Western Australia has. It is
resourced, it is growing and it is very effective. We will continue to deal
with the scourge of illicit drugs, but let us be realistic about the overall
crime rate, which is down. The water tests have revealed that the rate of
illicit drug consumption in the major categories of drugs is actually lower
than the national average.
the question, I want to express the condolences of the government on the
passing of a woman police officer. The police have just announced that a 54-year-old
woman police officer, who was on her way to work, has passed away in a road
crash. It is a sobering reminder to everyone about the serious consequences of
the way that we behave on the roads. I am not going to make any further
comments on this matter, but I think it is a very sad day for the Western
Australia Police Force. We remember that the men and women in blue do a very
dangerous job every day, whether through the issues they confront or simply in getting
to work. We should all spare a moment to reflect on that very sad news.
The member talked
about the testing, which is done across the nation. I can reveal that, in fact,
in overall drug consumption, Western Australia has one of the lowest figures in
consumption of illicit drugs. That comes through consistently through those
tests. We are high in use of methamphetamine and that might be a reflection of the
demographics of our state and our earning potential, but across the board, and
in a more general overall sense, the amount of other illicit drugs being
detected is lower for the financial year to date.
I also have to talk
about the good work that our police are doing on serious and organised crime in
exercising search warrants, tough anti-bikie laws and the detection of drugs. For
the four main types of drugs—methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin and MDMA—Western
Australia remained below the national average of consumption per year. WA makes
up about 11% of Australia's population, and a lower figure for drug consumption
has been discovered through this water-testing process for those four drug
types. The member asked about what we are doing. What we are doing is funding
more and more police, having record numbers of police throughout Western Australia, funding equipment and resources
that make them amongst—no, it makes them the most effective law enforcement
operation in the country. At a time when other police forces around the country
are suffering from attrition, ours continues to grow. There has been an
increase of nearly 1,000 police in Western Australia since we took government.
Our overall crime rate in Western Australia is lower than it was 10 years ago.
It peaked in 2016. That was a high point and the crime rate has fallen ever
since. Our crime rate has fallen by around 20% since Labor has been in
government.
Mr Adam Hort interjected.
Mr Reece Whitby: These are the facts that are
uncomfortable for members opposite, but it is true the Cook government—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members, thank you.
Mr Reece Whitby: The Cook government has supported our
police force like no other government in Western Australia has. It is
resourced, it is growing and it is very effective. We will continue to deal
with the scourge of illicit drugs, but let us be realistic about the overall
crime rate, which is down. The water tests have revealed that the rate of
illicit drug consumption in the major categories of drugs is actually lower
than the national average.
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