❓ Mr. Norberger questions the Minister for Police on the government's support for police in combating methamphetamine dealers. The Minister details increased funding and resources for the WA Police meth strategy.
AnsweredQoN 900Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
POLICE — METHAMPHETAMINE FORUM
900. Mr J. NORBERGER to the
Minister for Police:
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr D.J. Kelly interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Bassendean, I call you to order
for the first time.
Mr J. NORBERGER : The minister recently attended a forum in
my electorate at which several audience members talked about how their
neighbourhoods had been affected by methamphetamine. How is the Liberal–National
government supporting police to fight back against meth dealers in our suburbs?
900. Mr J. NORBERGER to the
Minister for Police:
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr D.J. Kelly interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Bassendean, I call you to order
for the first time.
Mr J. NORBERGER : The minister recently attended a forum in
my electorate at which several audience members talked about how their
neighbourhoods had been affected by methamphetamine. How is the Liberal–National
government supporting police to fight back against meth dealers in our suburbs?
AnswerView source ↗
Before I answer the question, I would like to acknowledge, on
behalf of the member for South Perth, those individuals from the Como Probus
club, who join us in the gallery this afternoon.
I am very pleased to receive this question from the member
for Joondalup and, indeed, to have the opportunity to listen to his community
about the issues affecting them with respect to methamphetamine use. I was
joined by the Minister for Mental Health at that event. We certainly found it
to be of great value. I am pleased to announce—the member for Joondalup
might have seen it in the media yesterday—that I have been successful
in achieving $3.1 million of additional funding for WA Police to enable it to
continue with its WA meth strategy and enforcement plan around methamphetamine
use in Western Australia. The $3.1 million will achieve an additional 24 police
officers and 10 specialist officers. Those specialist roles will be filled by
people who have skills in intelligence analysis, interpreters and forensic
accountants. All those people with specialist skills will be able to analyse
the intelligence that comes in through the meth desk—intelligence about
the South-East Asian drug cartels that are responsible for the distribution and
importation of methamphetamine, the vast majority of it throughout Western
Australia. The $3.1 million will also buy those 34 additional officers eight
vehicles. Those vehicles will obviously be used as part of the enforcement
strategy. These specialist teams and the continuation of the meth teams will
enable WA Police —
Ms M.M. Quirk interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Girrawheen, I call you to order for the first, second and third
time. Minister, quick answer.
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
The teams will enable police to be better placed to determine where they should
enact our drug transit route legislation, the most likely places where meth is
being transported across the state and the best areas to place those
checkpoints where they will be able to stop and search every vehicle. It will
also help inform their decisions as to when they should be going to the courier
distribution centres and the freight distribution centres with best effect to
ensure that they can seize methamphetamine and charge offenders. Over the last
year, as a result of the additional effort put in by WA Police and our friends
from the commonwealth, we have taken over 700 kilograms of methamphetamine out
of circulation in Western Australia. This is an outstanding result. The
previous year, there was 48 kilos —
Mr P. Papalia interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Warnbro, I call you to order for the first time.
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
By comparison, during the previous year, only about 46 kilograms of
methamphetamine were seized. The difference between us and those over there who
rudely interject whenever I talk about police is that we have a strategy to
combat methamphetamine use; we have a strategy to block supply; we have a
strategy to minimise harm and to drive down demand for the drug. Those opposite
had nothing. Over eight years, they had no strategy and nothing to contribute
but criticism. The Labor Party should get on board with our plan and help the
community.
behalf of the member for South Perth, those individuals from the Como Probus
club, who join us in the gallery this afternoon.
I am very pleased to receive this question from the member
for Joondalup and, indeed, to have the opportunity to listen to his community
about the issues affecting them with respect to methamphetamine use. I was
joined by the Minister for Mental Health at that event. We certainly found it
to be of great value. I am pleased to announce—the member for Joondalup
might have seen it in the media yesterday—that I have been successful
in achieving $3.1 million of additional funding for WA Police to enable it to
continue with its WA meth strategy and enforcement plan around methamphetamine
use in Western Australia. The $3.1 million will achieve an additional 24 police
officers and 10 specialist officers. Those specialist roles will be filled by
people who have skills in intelligence analysis, interpreters and forensic
accountants. All those people with specialist skills will be able to analyse
the intelligence that comes in through the meth desk—intelligence about
the South-East Asian drug cartels that are responsible for the distribution and
importation of methamphetamine, the vast majority of it throughout Western
Australia. The $3.1 million will also buy those 34 additional officers eight
vehicles. Those vehicles will obviously be used as part of the enforcement
strategy. These specialist teams and the continuation of the meth teams will
enable WA Police —
Ms M.M. Quirk interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Girrawheen, I call you to order for the first, second and third
time. Minister, quick answer.
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
The teams will enable police to be better placed to determine where they should
enact our drug transit route legislation, the most likely places where meth is
being transported across the state and the best areas to place those
checkpoints where they will be able to stop and search every vehicle. It will
also help inform their decisions as to when they should be going to the courier
distribution centres and the freight distribution centres with best effect to
ensure that they can seize methamphetamine and charge offenders. Over the last
year, as a result of the additional effort put in by WA Police and our friends
from the commonwealth, we have taken over 700 kilograms of methamphetamine out
of circulation in Western Australia. This is an outstanding result. The
previous year, there was 48 kilos —
Mr P. Papalia interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Warnbro, I call you to order for the first time.
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
By comparison, during the previous year, only about 46 kilograms of
methamphetamine were seized. The difference between us and those over there who
rudely interject whenever I talk about police is that we have a strategy to
combat methamphetamine use; we have a strategy to block supply; we have a
strategy to minimise harm and to drive down demand for the drug. Those opposite
had nothing. Over eight years, they had no strategy and nothing to contribute
but criticism. The Labor Party should get on board with our plan and help the
community.
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