❓ Mr Logan asks about the WA government's response to anthrax scares. Dr Gallop responds, outlining the government's assessment of the threat, resources, and planned actions against hoaxes, while urging calm and vigilance.
AnsweredQoN 414Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ANTHRAX THREAT, GOVERNMENT’S RESPONSE
What is the State Government’s response to the so-called anthrax scares that have been recorded in the community? Dr GALLOP
What is the State Government’s response to the so-called anthrax scares that have been recorded in the community? Dr GALLOP
AnswerView source ↗
What we are seeing is clearly the result of a heightened sense of anxiety in the community resulting from the small number of confirmed anthrax cases in the United States. Mr Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER: The member for Warren-Blackwood! Dr GALLOP: There have been numerous scares in Australia. In Western Australia there have been 28 reports to police. In all cases the suspicious material was found to be harmless. Although no Government can provide an absolute guarantee against terrorist attacks using biological or chemical agents, the reality is that the chances of that happening in Western Australia, or even Australia, are remote. However, in the event that any such attack takes place, we are assured by our medical authorities that Western Australia has on hand large stocks of the antibiotics, as well as vaccines, needed to treat anthrax. We also have a first-class network of public health laboratories capable of identifying anthrax. The reality is that what we are experiencing today is probably a combination of two things: false alarms and, unfortunately, deliberate hoaxes. I reassure the public that the police will treat seriously all reported cases of suspicious letters or parcels. If people have genuine concerns, they should report them to the police and appropriate action will be taken. We will not tolerate deliberate attempts by small-minded individuals or groups to create fear and hysteria in the community. We will ensure that people perpetrating hoaxes of this kind will face the full force of the law. I am advised that the maximum penalty for such hoaxes under the commonwealth Crimes Act is five years imprisonment. Police can also seek the recovery of all expenses associated with investigations, and individuals or businesses can seek damages through the civil courts. Under state legislation, the maximum penalty for creating a false belief is $500 or six months imprisonment. Today I asked the Attorney General to review the penalties under our state legislation with a view to bringing them into line with the commonwealth penalties. That means that anyone engaging in hoaxes of these kinds can and will face severe criminal and civil penalties. I repeat: we as a Government will not tolerate the spreading of fear and anxiety throughout the community. My advice to everyone is to be calm but vigilant. There is a danger that we can become overwhelmed by the events that we are witnessing, and we must understand the consequence of that happening. We need to take precautions and be vigilant, but we must not surrender to fear and hysteria. If we do that, terrorism is the winner.
Dr GALLOP replied: What we are seeing is clearly the result of a heightened sense of anxiety in the community resulting from the small number of confirmed anthrax cases in the United States. Mr Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER: The member for Warren-Blackwood! Dr GALLOP: There have been numerous scares in Australia. In Western Australia there have been 28 reports to police. In all cases the suspicious material was found to be harmless. Although no Government can provide an absolute guarantee against terrorist attacks using biological or chemical agents, the reality is that the chances of that happening in Western Australia, or even Australia, are remote. However, in the event that any such attack takes place, we are assured by our medical authorities that Western Australia has on hand large stocks of the antibiotics, as well as vaccines, needed to treat anthrax. We also have a first-class network of public health laboratories capable of identifying anthrax. The reality is that what we are experiencing today is probably a combination of two things: false alarms and, unfortunately, deliberate hoaxes. I reassure the public that the police will treat seriously all reported cases of suspicious letters or parcels. If people have genuine concerns, they should report them to the police and appropriate action will be taken. We will not tolerate deliberate attempts by small-minded individuals or groups to create fear and hysteria in the community. We will ensure that people perpetrating hoaxes of this kind will face the full force of the law. I am advised that the maximum penalty for such hoaxes under the commonwealth Crimes Act is five years imprisonment. Police can also seek the recovery of all expenses associated with investigations, and individuals or businesses can seek damages through the civil courts. Under state legislation, the maximum penalty for creating a false belief is $500 or six months imprisonment. Today I asked the Attorney General to review the penalties under our state legislation with a view to bringing them into line with the commonwealth penalties. That means that anyone engaging in hoaxes of these kinds can and will face severe criminal and civil penalties. I repeat: we as a Government will not tolerate the spreading of fear and anxiety throughout the community. My advice to everyone is to be calm but vigilant. There is a danger that we can become overwhelmed by the events that we are witnessing, and we must understand the consequence of that happening. We need to take precautions and be vigilant, but we must not surrender to fear and hysteria. If we do that, terrorism is the winner.
What we are seeing is clearly the result of a heightened sense of anxiety in the community resulting from the small number of confirmed anthrax cases in the United States. Mr Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER: The member for Warren-Blackwood! Dr GALLOP: There have been numerous scares in Australia. In Western Australia there have been 28 reports to police. In all cases the suspicious material was found to be harmless. Although no Government can provide an absolute guarantee against terrorist attacks using biological or chemical agents, the reality is that the chances of that happening in Western Australia, or even Australia, are remote. However, in the event that any such attack takes place, we are assured by our medical authorities that Western Australia has on hand large stocks of the antibiotics, as well as vaccines, needed to treat anthrax. We also have a first-class network of public health laboratories capable of identifying anthrax. The reality is that what we are experiencing today is probably a combination of two things: false alarms and, unfortunately, deliberate hoaxes. I reassure the public that the police will treat seriously all reported cases of suspicious letters or parcels. If people have genuine concerns, they should report them to the police and appropriate action will be taken. We will not tolerate deliberate attempts by small-minded individuals or groups to create fear and hysteria in the community. We will ensure that people perpetrating hoaxes of this kind will face the full force of the law. I am advised that the maximum penalty for such hoaxes under the commonwealth Crimes Act is five years imprisonment. Police can also seek the recovery of all expenses associated with investigations, and individuals or businesses can seek damages through the civil courts. Under state legislation, the maximum penalty for creating a false belief is $500 or six months imprisonment. Today I asked the Attorney General to review the penalties under our state legislation with a view to bringing them into line with the commonwealth penalties. That means that anyone engaging in hoaxes of these kinds can and will face severe criminal and civil penalties. I repeat: we as a Government will not tolerate the spreading of fear and anxiety throughout the community. My advice to everyone is to be calm but vigilant. There is a danger that we can become overwhelmed by the events that we are witnessing, and we must understand the consequence of that happening. We need to take precautions and be vigilant, but we must not surrender to fear and hysteria. If we do that, terrorism is the winner.
Mr Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER: The member for Warren-Blackwood! Dr GALLOP: There have been numerous scares in Australia. In Western Australia there have been 28 reports to police. In all cases the suspicious material was found to be harmless. Although no Government can provide an absolute guarantee against terrorist attacks using biological or chemical agents, the reality is that the chances of that happening in Western Australia, or even Australia, are remote. However, in the event that any such attack takes place, we are assured by our medical authorities that Western Australia has on hand large stocks of the antibiotics, as well as vaccines, needed to treat anthrax. We also have a first-class network of public health laboratories capable of identifying anthrax. The reality is that what we are experiencing today is probably a combination of two things: false alarms and, unfortunately, deliberate hoaxes. I reassure the public that the police will treat seriously all reported cases of suspicious letters or parcels. If people have genuine concerns, they should report them to the police and appropriate action will be taken. We will not tolerate deliberate attempts by small-minded individuals or groups to create fear and hysteria in the community. We will ensure that people perpetrating hoaxes of this kind will face the full force of the law. I am advised that the maximum penalty for such hoaxes under the commonwealth Crimes Act is five years imprisonment. Police can also seek the recovery of all expenses associated with investigations, and individuals or businesses can seek damages through the civil courts. Under state legislation, the maximum penalty for creating a false belief is $500 or six months imprisonment. Today I asked the Attorney General to review the penalties under our state legislation with a view to bringing them into line with the commonwealth penalties. That means that anyone engaging in hoaxes of these kinds can and will face severe criminal and civil penalties. I repeat: we as a Government will not tolerate the spreading of fear and anxiety throughout the community. My advice to everyone is to be calm but vigilant. There is a danger that we can become overwhelmed by the events that we are witnessing, and we must understand the consequence of that happening. We need to take precautions and be vigilant, but we must not surrender to fear and hysteria. If we do that, terrorism is the winner.
The SPEAKER: The member for Warren-Blackwood! Dr GALLOP: There have been numerous scares in Australia. In Western Australia there have been 28 reports to police. In all cases the suspicious material was found to be harmless. Although no Government can provide an absolute guarantee against terrorist attacks using biological or chemical agents, the reality is that the chances of that happening in Western Australia, or even Australia, are remote. However, in the event that any such attack takes place, we are assured by our medical authorities that Western Australia has on hand large stocks of the antibiotics, as well as vaccines, needed to treat anthrax. We also have a first-class network of public health laboratories capable of identifying anthrax. The reality is that what we are experiencing today is probably a combination of two things: false alarms and, unfortunately, deliberate hoaxes. I reassure the public that the police will treat seriously all reported cases of suspicious letters or parcels. If people have genuine concerns, they should report them to the police and appropriate action will be taken. We will not tolerate deliberate attempts by small-minded individuals or groups to create fear and hysteria in the community. We will ensure that people perpetrating hoaxes of this kind will face the full force of the law. I am advised that the maximum penalty for such hoaxes under the commonwealth Crimes Act is five years imprisonment. Police can also seek the recovery of all expenses associated with investigations, and individuals or businesses can seek damages through the civil courts. Under state legislation, the maximum penalty for creating a false belief is $500 or six months imprisonment. Today I asked the Attorney General to review the penalties under our state legislation with a view to bringing them into line with the commonwealth penalties. That means that anyone engaging in hoaxes of these kinds can and will face severe criminal and civil penalties. I repeat: we as a Government will not tolerate the spreading of fear and anxiety throughout the community. My advice to everyone is to be calm but vigilant. There is a danger that we can become overwhelmed by the events that we are witnessing, and we must understand the consequence of that happening. We need to take precautions and be vigilant, but we must not surrender to fear and hysteria. If we do that, terrorism is the winner.
Dr GALLOP: There have been numerous scares in Australia. In Western Australia there have been 28 reports to police. In all cases the suspicious material was found to be harmless. Although no Government can provide an absolute guarantee against terrorist attacks using biological or chemical agents, the reality is that the chances of that happening in Western Australia, or even Australia, are remote. However, in the event that any such attack takes place, we are assured by our medical authorities that Western Australia has on hand large stocks of the antibiotics, as well as vaccines, needed to treat anthrax. We also have a first-class network of public health laboratories capable of identifying anthrax. The reality is that what we are experiencing today is probably a combination of two things: false alarms and, unfortunately, deliberate hoaxes. I reassure the public that the police will treat seriously all reported cases of suspicious letters or parcels. If people have genuine concerns, they should report them to the police and appropriate action will be taken. We will not tolerate deliberate attempts by small-minded individuals or groups to create fear and hysteria in the community. We will ensure that people perpetrating hoaxes of this kind will face the full force of the law. I am advised that the maximum penalty for such hoaxes under the commonwealth Crimes Act is five years imprisonment. Police can also seek the recovery of all expenses associated with investigations, and individuals or businesses can seek damages through the civil courts. Under state legislation, the maximum penalty for creating a false belief is $500 or six months imprisonment. Today I asked the Attorney General to review the penalties under our state legislation with a view to bringing them into line with the commonwealth penalties. That means that anyone engaging in hoaxes of these kinds can and will face severe criminal and civil penalties. I repeat: we as a Government will not tolerate the spreading of fear and anxiety throughout the community. My advice to everyone is to be calm but vigilant. There is a danger that we can become overwhelmed by the events that we are witnessing, and we must understand the consequence of that happening. We need to take precautions and be vigilant, but we must not surrender to fear and hysteria. If we do that, terrorism is the winner.
I reassure the public that the police will treat seriously all reported cases of suspicious letters or parcels. If people have genuine concerns, they should report them to the police and appropriate action will be taken. We will not tolerate deliberate attempts by small-minded individuals or groups to create fear and hysteria in the community. We will ensure that people perpetrating hoaxes of this kind will face the full force of the law. I am advised that the maximum penalty for such hoaxes under the commonwealth Crimes Act is five years imprisonment. Police can also seek the recovery of all expenses associated with investigations, and individuals or businesses can seek damages through the civil courts. Under state legislation, the maximum penalty for creating a false belief is $500 or six months imprisonment. Today I asked the Attorney General to review the penalties under our state legislation with a view to bringing them into line with the commonwealth penalties. That means that anyone engaging in hoaxes of these kinds can and will face severe criminal and civil penalties. I repeat: we as a Government will not tolerate the spreading of fear and anxiety throughout the community. My advice to everyone is to be calm but vigilant. There is a danger that we can become overwhelmed by the events that we are witnessing, and we must understand the consequence of that happening. We need to take precautions and be vigilant, but we must not surrender to fear and hysteria. If we do that, terrorism is the winner.
I repeat: we as a Government will not tolerate the spreading of fear and anxiety throughout the community. My advice to everyone is to be calm but vigilant. There is a danger that we can become overwhelmed by the events that we are witnessing, and we must understand the consequence of that happening. We need to take precautions and be vigilant, but we must not surrender to fear and hysteria. If we do that, terrorism is the winner.
Dr GALLOP replied: What we are seeing is clearly the result of a heightened sense of anxiety in the community resulting from the small number of confirmed anthrax cases in the United States. Mr Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER: The member for Warren-Blackwood! Dr GALLOP: There have been numerous scares in Australia. In Western Australia there have been 28 reports to police. In all cases the suspicious material was found to be harmless. Although no Government can provide an absolute guarantee against terrorist attacks using biological or chemical agents, the reality is that the chances of that happening in Western Australia, or even Australia, are remote. However, in the event that any such attack takes place, we are assured by our medical authorities that Western Australia has on hand large stocks of the antibiotics, as well as vaccines, needed to treat anthrax. We also have a first-class network of public health laboratories capable of identifying anthrax. The reality is that what we are experiencing today is probably a combination of two things: false alarms and, unfortunately, deliberate hoaxes. I reassure the public that the police will treat seriously all reported cases of suspicious letters or parcels. If people have genuine concerns, they should report them to the police and appropriate action will be taken. We will not tolerate deliberate attempts by small-minded individuals or groups to create fear and hysteria in the community. We will ensure that people perpetrating hoaxes of this kind will face the full force of the law. I am advised that the maximum penalty for such hoaxes under the commonwealth Crimes Act is five years imprisonment. Police can also seek the recovery of all expenses associated with investigations, and individuals or businesses can seek damages through the civil courts. Under state legislation, the maximum penalty for creating a false belief is $500 or six months imprisonment. Today I asked the Attorney General to review the penalties under our state legislation with a view to bringing them into line with the commonwealth penalties. That means that anyone engaging in hoaxes of these kinds can and will face severe criminal and civil penalties. I repeat: we as a Government will not tolerate the spreading of fear and anxiety throughout the community. My advice to everyone is to be calm but vigilant. There is a danger that we can become overwhelmed by the events that we are witnessing, and we must understand the consequence of that happening. We need to take precautions and be vigilant, but we must not surrender to fear and hysteria. If we do that, terrorism is the winner.
What we are seeing is clearly the result of a heightened sense of anxiety in the community resulting from the small number of confirmed anthrax cases in the United States. Mr Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER: The member for Warren-Blackwood! Dr GALLOP: There have been numerous scares in Australia. In Western Australia there have been 28 reports to police. In all cases the suspicious material was found to be harmless. Although no Government can provide an absolute guarantee against terrorist attacks using biological or chemical agents, the reality is that the chances of that happening in Western Australia, or even Australia, are remote. However, in the event that any such attack takes place, we are assured by our medical authorities that Western Australia has on hand large stocks of the antibiotics, as well as vaccines, needed to treat anthrax. We also have a first-class network of public health laboratories capable of identifying anthrax. The reality is that what we are experiencing today is probably a combination of two things: false alarms and, unfortunately, deliberate hoaxes. I reassure the public that the police will treat seriously all reported cases of suspicious letters or parcels. If people have genuine concerns, they should report them to the police and appropriate action will be taken. We will not tolerate deliberate attempts by small-minded individuals or groups to create fear and hysteria in the community. We will ensure that people perpetrating hoaxes of this kind will face the full force of the law. I am advised that the maximum penalty for such hoaxes under the commonwealth Crimes Act is five years imprisonment. Police can also seek the recovery of all expenses associated with investigations, and individuals or businesses can seek damages through the civil courts. Under state legislation, the maximum penalty for creating a false belief is $500 or six months imprisonment. Today I asked the Attorney General to review the penalties under our state legislation with a view to bringing them into line with the commonwealth penalties. That means that anyone engaging in hoaxes of these kinds can and will face severe criminal and civil penalties. I repeat: we as a Government will not tolerate the spreading of fear and anxiety throughout the community. My advice to everyone is to be calm but vigilant. There is a danger that we can become overwhelmed by the events that we are witnessing, and we must understand the consequence of that happening. We need to take precautions and be vigilant, but we must not surrender to fear and hysteria. If we do that, terrorism is the winner.
Mr Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER: The member for Warren-Blackwood! Dr GALLOP: There have been numerous scares in Australia. In Western Australia there have been 28 reports to police. In all cases the suspicious material was found to be harmless. Although no Government can provide an absolute guarantee against terrorist attacks using biological or chemical agents, the reality is that the chances of that happening in Western Australia, or even Australia, are remote. However, in the event that any such attack takes place, we are assured by our medical authorities that Western Australia has on hand large stocks of the antibiotics, as well as vaccines, needed to treat anthrax. We also have a first-class network of public health laboratories capable of identifying anthrax. The reality is that what we are experiencing today is probably a combination of two things: false alarms and, unfortunately, deliberate hoaxes. I reassure the public that the police will treat seriously all reported cases of suspicious letters or parcels. If people have genuine concerns, they should report them to the police and appropriate action will be taken. We will not tolerate deliberate attempts by small-minded individuals or groups to create fear and hysteria in the community. We will ensure that people perpetrating hoaxes of this kind will face the full force of the law. I am advised that the maximum penalty for such hoaxes under the commonwealth Crimes Act is five years imprisonment. Police can also seek the recovery of all expenses associated with investigations, and individuals or businesses can seek damages through the civil courts. Under state legislation, the maximum penalty for creating a false belief is $500 or six months imprisonment. Today I asked the Attorney General to review the penalties under our state legislation with a view to bringing them into line with the commonwealth penalties. That means that anyone engaging in hoaxes of these kinds can and will face severe criminal and civil penalties. I repeat: we as a Government will not tolerate the spreading of fear and anxiety throughout the community. My advice to everyone is to be calm but vigilant. There is a danger that we can become overwhelmed by the events that we are witnessing, and we must understand the consequence of that happening. We need to take precautions and be vigilant, but we must not surrender to fear and hysteria. If we do that, terrorism is the winner.
The SPEAKER: The member for Warren-Blackwood! Dr GALLOP: There have been numerous scares in Australia. In Western Australia there have been 28 reports to police. In all cases the suspicious material was found to be harmless. Although no Government can provide an absolute guarantee against terrorist attacks using biological or chemical agents, the reality is that the chances of that happening in Western Australia, or even Australia, are remote. However, in the event that any such attack takes place, we are assured by our medical authorities that Western Australia has on hand large stocks of the antibiotics, as well as vaccines, needed to treat anthrax. We also have a first-class network of public health laboratories capable of identifying anthrax. The reality is that what we are experiencing today is probably a combination of two things: false alarms and, unfortunately, deliberate hoaxes. I reassure the public that the police will treat seriously all reported cases of suspicious letters or parcels. If people have genuine concerns, they should report them to the police and appropriate action will be taken. We will not tolerate deliberate attempts by small-minded individuals or groups to create fear and hysteria in the community. We will ensure that people perpetrating hoaxes of this kind will face the full force of the law. I am advised that the maximum penalty for such hoaxes under the commonwealth Crimes Act is five years imprisonment. Police can also seek the recovery of all expenses associated with investigations, and individuals or businesses can seek damages through the civil courts. Under state legislation, the maximum penalty for creating a false belief is $500 or six months imprisonment. Today I asked the Attorney General to review the penalties under our state legislation with a view to bringing them into line with the commonwealth penalties. That means that anyone engaging in hoaxes of these kinds can and will face severe criminal and civil penalties. I repeat: we as a Government will not tolerate the spreading of fear and anxiety throughout the community. My advice to everyone is to be calm but vigilant. There is a danger that we can become overwhelmed by the events that we are witnessing, and we must understand the consequence of that happening. We need to take precautions and be vigilant, but we must not surrender to fear and hysteria. If we do that, terrorism is the winner.
Dr GALLOP: There have been numerous scares in Australia. In Western Australia there have been 28 reports to police. In all cases the suspicious material was found to be harmless. Although no Government can provide an absolute guarantee against terrorist attacks using biological or chemical agents, the reality is that the chances of that happening in Western Australia, or even Australia, are remote. However, in the event that any such attack takes place, we are assured by our medical authorities that Western Australia has on hand large stocks of the antibiotics, as well as vaccines, needed to treat anthrax. We also have a first-class network of public health laboratories capable of identifying anthrax. The reality is that what we are experiencing today is probably a combination of two things: false alarms and, unfortunately, deliberate hoaxes. I reassure the public that the police will treat seriously all reported cases of suspicious letters or parcels. If people have genuine concerns, they should report them to the police and appropriate action will be taken. We will not tolerate deliberate attempts by small-minded individuals or groups to create fear and hysteria in the community. We will ensure that people perpetrating hoaxes of this kind will face the full force of the law. I am advised that the maximum penalty for such hoaxes under the commonwealth Crimes Act is five years imprisonment. Police can also seek the recovery of all expenses associated with investigations, and individuals or businesses can seek damages through the civil courts. Under state legislation, the maximum penalty for creating a false belief is $500 or six months imprisonment. Today I asked the Attorney General to review the penalties under our state legislation with a view to bringing them into line with the commonwealth penalties. That means that anyone engaging in hoaxes of these kinds can and will face severe criminal and civil penalties. I repeat: we as a Government will not tolerate the spreading of fear and anxiety throughout the community. My advice to everyone is to be calm but vigilant. There is a danger that we can become overwhelmed by the events that we are witnessing, and we must understand the consequence of that happening. We need to take precautions and be vigilant, but we must not surrender to fear and hysteria. If we do that, terrorism is the winner.
I reassure the public that the police will treat seriously all reported cases of suspicious letters or parcels. If people have genuine concerns, they should report them to the police and appropriate action will be taken. We will not tolerate deliberate attempts by small-minded individuals or groups to create fear and hysteria in the community. We will ensure that people perpetrating hoaxes of this kind will face the full force of the law. I am advised that the maximum penalty for such hoaxes under the commonwealth Crimes Act is five years imprisonment. Police can also seek the recovery of all expenses associated with investigations, and individuals or businesses can seek damages through the civil courts. Under state legislation, the maximum penalty for creating a false belief is $500 or six months imprisonment. Today I asked the Attorney General to review the penalties under our state legislation with a view to bringing them into line with the commonwealth penalties. That means that anyone engaging in hoaxes of these kinds can and will face severe criminal and civil penalties. I repeat: we as a Government will not tolerate the spreading of fear and anxiety throughout the community. My advice to everyone is to be calm but vigilant. There is a danger that we can become overwhelmed by the events that we are witnessing, and we must understand the consequence of that happening. We need to take precautions and be vigilant, but we must not surrender to fear and hysteria. If we do that, terrorism is the winner.
I repeat: we as a Government will not tolerate the spreading of fear and anxiety throughout the community. My advice to everyone is to be calm but vigilant. There is a danger that we can become overwhelmed by the events that we are witnessing, and we must understand the consequence of that happening. We need to take precautions and be vigilant, but we must not surrender to fear and hysteria. If we do that, terrorism is the winner.
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