❓ Dr. Walker questions the government's stance on medical cannabis use and workplace drug testing, referencing NSW's approach and Rio Tinto's policy. The government affirms support for workers' rights to medical treatment within WHS parameters and will consider meeting requests.
AnsweredQoN 97Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
MEDICAL CANNABIS — WORKPLACE DRUG TESTING
97. Hon Dr BRIAN WALKER to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Industrial Relations:
I refer the
minister to the recent announcement that her counterpart in New South Wales has
agreed to meet with a delegation of
medicinal cannabis experts and patients to discuss workplace drug testing, and
in light of Rio Tinto's decision last month to discriminate
against all and any employees who have a medical cannabis prescription, I ask
the following.
(1) Does the Cook government support the right of all workers to
seek and enjoy appropriate and legally permissible medical attention without
discrimination?
(2)
Will the minister associate herself with Minister Cotsis's comments
when she said referring to medicinal cannabis patients, ''we need to
make sure that we, as a government, are accommodating particularly those people
who are undertaking treatment or have got chronic illness''?
(3)
Will the Minister for Commerce agree to meet with a similar group of experts
here in Western Australia to discuss the self-same issues faced by Western Australian
workers; and, if not, why not?
97. Hon Dr BRIAN WALKER to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Industrial Relations:
I refer the
minister to the recent announcement that her counterpart in New South Wales has
agreed to meet with a delegation of
medicinal cannabis experts and patients to discuss workplace drug testing, and
in light of Rio Tinto's decision last month to discriminate
against all and any employees who have a medical cannabis prescription, I ask
the following.
(1) Does the Cook government support the right of all workers to
seek and enjoy appropriate and legally permissible medical attention without
discrimination?
(2)
Will the minister associate herself with Minister Cotsis's comments
when she said referring to medicinal cannabis patients, ''we need to
make sure that we, as a government, are accommodating particularly those people
who are undertaking treatment or have got chronic illness''?
(3)
Will the Minister for Commerce agree to meet with a similar group of experts
here in Western Australia to discuss the self-same issues faced by Western Australian
workers; and, if not, why not?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member
for some notice of the question. I note that this question was originally
directed to the Minister for Commerce and was redirected to the Minister for
Industrial Relations, and it is important to understand the answer in that
context.
(1)–(2) Yes,
so long as parameters under the Work Health and Safety Act 2020 are met.
(3)
Noting that the question should have been addressed to the Minister for
Industrial Relations, the minister gives genuine consideration to all meeting
requests.
for some notice of the question. I note that this question was originally
directed to the Minister for Commerce and was redirected to the Minister for
Industrial Relations, and it is important to understand the answer in that
context.
(1)–(2) Yes,
so long as parameters under the Work Health and Safety Act 2020 are met.
(3)
Noting that the question should have been addressed to the Minister for
Industrial Relations, the minister gives genuine consideration to all meeting
requests.
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