❓ Reports of students bringing prohibited weapons to WA public schools are increasing. Data on suspensions is unavailable, but exclusions are tracked, with a recent exclusion in 2024.
AnsweredQoN 59Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) How many incidents were recorded in which a student brought a prohibited weapon (as defined under the Weapons Act 1999 (WA) ) onto public school premises in each of the following school years: (a) 2025 to date; (b) 2024; (c) 2023; (d) 2022; and (e) 2021? (2) Does the Department divide prohibited weapons into different categories – or types – of prohibited weapons: (a) If so, what are these categories? (3) For each of the different categories of prohibited weapons, please provide a breakdown of how many were brought onto WA public school premises in the following school years: (a) 2025 to date; (b) 2024; (c) 2023; (d) 2022; and (e) 2021? (4) How many students have been suspended and/or excluded (please list separately) for possession of a prohibited weapon in WA public schools in the following years: (a) 2025 to date; (b) 2024; (c) 2023; (d) 2022; and (e) 2021?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
24 June 2025
Responded by
Minister for Education
Response time
9 days
The Department of Education advises:
(1) (a) 15 (up to and including 20 May 2025)
(b) 42
(c) 41
(d) 38
(e) 48
(2) Yes.
(a) The type of weapon used.
(3)
Weapons Regulations 1999 Schedule 1 Prohibited weapons
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025*
Item
Weapon
1
Acoustic shock weapon
0
0
0
0
0
1A
Airsoft gun
0
2
1
2
1
2
Ballistic knife
0
0
0
0
0
3
Blow pipe
0
0
0
0
0
4
Butterfly knife
2
7
10
3
3
5
Catapult (with an arm brace) 1
11
6
9
9
0
6
Commercially produced catapult (without an arm brace)
0
0
0
0
0
7A
Crossbow
0
0
0
0
0
7
Disguised knife or sword
0
0
0
1
1
8
Electric shock weapon
6
10
5
11
2
9
Electromagnetic weapon
0
0
0
0
0
10
Extendable baton
1
0
0
0
0
10A
Flamethrower
0
0
0
0
0
11
Flick knife or Switchblade
18
10
11
8
5
11A
Gas dart
0
0
0
0
0
11B
Gel blaster
8
3
1
1
1
12
Knuckle dusters
1
0
2
7
0
13
Knuckle knife
0
0
1
0
1
15
Spray weapon (other than a capsicum spray weapon)
0
0
1
0
0
16
Spud gun
1
0
0
0
1
Notes:
*Up to and including 20 May, 2025.
A single incident can include more than one weapon.
1 Incidents with catapults have been recorded under item 5 due to insufficient detail to determine between items 5 and 6.
(4)
Suspensions: Suspension due to possession of a prohibited weapon is recorded under the category ‘possession, use or supply of illegal substance/s or objects’ and is not available as a separate category.
Exclusions: The table below details the number of students in WA public schools who were issued an exclusion order for incidents involving a weapon (as defined under the Weapons Act 1999 (WA) ).
Year
Number of students
Prohibited
2025 (as at 23 May 2025)
0
2024
1
2023
0
Data prior to 2023 was not accessible within the timeframe as it requires a manual review of each exclusion record.
In accordance with the School Education Act 1999 (the Act) section 91(a)(i), principals can recommend a student for exclusion for breaches of school discipline which have adversely affected or threatened the safety of any person who is on the school premises or participating in an educational programme of the school. While a prohibited weapon may have been brought to school, the student may not have breached section 91(a)(i) of the Act.
(1) (a) 15 (up to and including 20 May 2025)
(b) 42
(c) 41
(d) 38
(e) 48
(2) Yes.
(a) The type of weapon used.
(3)
Weapons Regulations 1999 Schedule 1 Prohibited weapons
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025*
Item
Weapon
1
Acoustic shock weapon
0
0
0
0
0
1A
Airsoft gun
0
2
1
2
1
2
Ballistic knife
0
0
0
0
0
3
Blow pipe
0
0
0
0
0
4
Butterfly knife
2
7
10
3
3
5
Catapult (with an arm brace) 1
11
6
9
9
0
6
Commercially produced catapult (without an arm brace)
0
0
0
0
0
7A
Crossbow
0
0
0
0
0
7
Disguised knife or sword
0
0
0
1
1
8
Electric shock weapon
6
10
5
11
2
9
Electromagnetic weapon
0
0
0
0
0
10
Extendable baton
1
0
0
0
0
10A
Flamethrower
0
0
0
0
0
11
Flick knife or Switchblade
18
10
11
8
5
11A
Gas dart
0
0
0
0
0
11B
Gel blaster
8
3
1
1
1
12
Knuckle dusters
1
0
2
7
0
13
Knuckle knife
0
0
1
0
1
15
Spray weapon (other than a capsicum spray weapon)
0
0
1
0
0
16
Spud gun
1
0
0
0
1
Notes:
*Up to and including 20 May, 2025.
A single incident can include more than one weapon.
1 Incidents with catapults have been recorded under item 5 due to insufficient detail to determine between items 5 and 6.
(4)
Suspensions: Suspension due to possession of a prohibited weapon is recorded under the category ‘possession, use or supply of illegal substance/s or objects’ and is not available as a separate category.
Exclusions: The table below details the number of students in WA public schools who were issued an exclusion order for incidents involving a weapon (as defined under the Weapons Act 1999 (WA) ).
Year
Number of students
Prohibited
2025 (as at 23 May 2025)
0
2024
1
2023
0
Data prior to 2023 was not accessible within the timeframe as it requires a manual review of each exclusion record.
In accordance with the School Education Act 1999 (the Act) section 91(a)(i), principals can recommend a student for exclusion for breaches of school discipline which have adversely affected or threatened the safety of any person who is on the school premises or participating in an educational programme of the school. While a prohibited weapon may have been brought to school, the student may not have breached section 91(a)(i) of the Act.
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