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❓ Hon Steve Martin's question regarding methamphetamine contamination in WA public housing from 2021-22 to 2024-25 was largely unanswered. The Department of Housing and Works claims it doesn't track specific drug contamination, making the requested data unavailable.

AnsweredQoN 506Legislative Council

Asked

21 August 2025

Member

Hon Steve Martin

Portfolio

Housing and Works

QuestionView source ↗

I refer to Western Australian public housing, and I ask: (a) for each financial year from 2021-22 to 2024-25, how many public housing properties were tested for methamphetamine contamination; (b) in reference to (a), how many per year detected methamphetamine; (c) for each year in (a), what is the average remediation cost for properties where contamination was confirmed; and (d) for each year in (a), how many tenants were relocated due to drug-related contamination or damage to public housing properties?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered

14 October 2025

Responded by

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Housing and Works

Response time

7 days

(a) As has been previously advised, where there is evidence or suspicion of the manufacture, use or cultivation of an illicit substance at a Department of Housing and Works (the Department) property, a forensic testing contractor is engaged to perform a swab test. Remediation is then undertaken, as required. The process of remediating a drug contaminated property is tracked using the Department’s internal Drug Contamination Register. The specific drug the property has been contaminated by is not recorded on the Drug Contamination Register and therefore data specific to methamphetamine use is unable to be reported.
(b – d) Not applicable

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