❓ Mrs Harvey questions the Premier about the abolition of the meth enforcement task force. The Premier defends the decision, citing increased resources and a reduction in meth usage rates, emphasizing a balanced approach of enforcement, treatment, and education.
AnsweredQoN 466Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
METH ENFORCEMENT TASK
FORCE — POLICE
466. Mrs L.M. HARVEY to the Premier:
Was the Premier made aware of and
does he support the Minister for Police's decision to abolish the meth
enforcement task force?
FORCE — POLICE
466. Mrs L.M. HARVEY to the Premier:
Was the Premier made aware of and
does he support the Minister for Police's decision to abolish the meth
enforcement task force?
AnswerView source ↗
I think the Minister for Police has
outlined the case at least once in today's question time that we have
boosted resources in relation to dealing with methamphetamine. The Leader of
the Opposition prepared her questions before question time but does not listen
to the facts. The minister outlined it clearly. I want to read to the house
what the acting commissioner, Mr Col Blanch, had to say. This is what he said
on the radio. This apparently is where the Leader of the Opposition's
story has come from. The acting commissioner said —
We're not changing its focus,
we're actually increasing the amount of effort against methamphetamine,
and particularly those who import and traffic those drugs in the Western Australian
community.
We're very fortunate, � to
have ... to have the Government give us the meth funding so we can actually
stretch our reach ... both nationally and internationally.
That is what the minister had to
say. Honestly, when we came to office, obviously we knew there was a significant
issue. Everyone has known that now for a long period. What has occurred since
2016 is a 20 per cent reduction in meth usage rates. We know it is still too
high. We still want to reduce the number of people using these drugs. We have
made it a priority—a Premier's priority. Since we came to
office we have put $244 million into tackling meth, $125 million into the meth
border force and 100 new dedicated police officers.
Mr A. Krsticevic interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Carine, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr M. McGOWAN : The Leader of
the Opposition asked the question; I will give her the answer. There are 20 extra
staff, $4.8 million for a ten-bed crisis centre in Midland, short-term safe
spaces for compulsory critical intervention worth hundreds and hundreds of
thousands; and $9 million towards development of a comprehensive drug policy in
the Kimberley. There are numerous initiatives across the community to provide
both enforcement as well as treatment. We understand that it is not all about
enforcement, as important as that is; it is also about treatment and education
and making sure we provide people with the opportunity to get off this
insidious drug.
I know the Liberal Party will not
listen and I know the Leader of the Opposition will come up with a question
that shows she has not listened to the answer, but they are the facts.
outlined the case at least once in today's question time that we have
boosted resources in relation to dealing with methamphetamine. The Leader of
the Opposition prepared her questions before question time but does not listen
to the facts. The minister outlined it clearly. I want to read to the house
what the acting commissioner, Mr Col Blanch, had to say. This is what he said
on the radio. This apparently is where the Leader of the Opposition's
story has come from. The acting commissioner said —
We're not changing its focus,
we're actually increasing the amount of effort against methamphetamine,
and particularly those who import and traffic those drugs in the Western Australian
community.
We're very fortunate, � to
have ... to have the Government give us the meth funding so we can actually
stretch our reach ... both nationally and internationally.
That is what the minister had to
say. Honestly, when we came to office, obviously we knew there was a significant
issue. Everyone has known that now for a long period. What has occurred since
2016 is a 20 per cent reduction in meth usage rates. We know it is still too
high. We still want to reduce the number of people using these drugs. We have
made it a priority—a Premier's priority. Since we came to
office we have put $244 million into tackling meth, $125 million into the meth
border force and 100 new dedicated police officers.
Mr A. Krsticevic interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Carine, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr M. McGOWAN : The Leader of
the Opposition asked the question; I will give her the answer. There are 20 extra
staff, $4.8 million for a ten-bed crisis centre in Midland, short-term safe
spaces for compulsory critical intervention worth hundreds and hundreds of
thousands; and $9 million towards development of a comprehensive drug policy in
the Kimberley. There are numerous initiatives across the community to provide
both enforcement as well as treatment. We understand that it is not all about
enforcement, as important as that is; it is also about treatment and education
and making sure we provide people with the opportunity to get off this
insidious drug.
I know the Liberal Party will not
listen and I know the Leader of the Opposition will come up with a question
that shows she has not listened to the answer, but they are the facts.
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