❓ A WA parliamentary question regarding methamphetamine-related prosecutions is largely unanswered due to resource constraints. Some data on prosecutor workload related to drug and methamphetamine cases is provided.
AnsweredQoN 548Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) For each of the financial years 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24, 2024–25, and year-to-date 2025–26: (a) How many prosecutions were commenced in Western Australian courts for methamphetamine-related offences, broken down by: (i) possession; (ii) trafficking; and (iii) manufacturing or supplying; (b) How many prosecutions for methamphetamine-related offences resulted in convictions; (c) How many prosecutions were withdrawn or resulted in acquittals; and (d) Of the convictions recorded for methamphetamine-related offences, how many resulted in: (i) custodial sentences; (ii) suspended sentences; (iii) community-based orders; and (iv) fines? (2) As at the date of this question, how many methamphetamine-related matters are currently before the courts and awaiting resolution? (3) How many prosecutors within the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions are currently assigned to drug-related matters? (4) For (3), what proportion of their workload is attributable to methamphetamine prosecutions?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
16 September 2025
Responded by
Minister for Attorney General
Response time
4 days
(1) - (2) The Member is requesting a significant amount of information and detail for a considerable period of time. The information requested is not readily available and collecting it would divert staff away from their normal duties and is not considered to be a reasonable or appropriate use of government resources.
(3) As at 2 September 2025, approximately 70% of Prosecutors within the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions had a case in which at least one of the charges was a drug-related charge.
(4) One way the proportion of ‘workload’ can be represented for methylamphetamine prosecutions matters is by the number of prosecution cases, which may involve multiple charges, with at least one methylamphetamine charge. This is approximately 8%.
Workload is influenced by a number of factors, including case complexity, number of co-accused and volume of evidentiary material, all of which are ordinarily present in serious methylamphetamine related matters.
(3) As at 2 September 2025, approximately 70% of Prosecutors within the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions had a case in which at least one of the charges was a drug-related charge.
(4) One way the proportion of ‘workload’ can be represented for methylamphetamine prosecutions matters is by the number of prosecution cases, which may involve multiple charges, with at least one methylamphetamine charge. This is approximately 8%.
Workload is influenced by a number of factors, including case complexity, number of co-accused and volume of evidentiary material, all of which are ordinarily present in serious methylamphetamine related matters.
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