❓ Hon Peter Collier asks about drug testing protocols for staff and visitors in WA prisons. The Minister confirms mandatory testing for sworn officers, but not for unsworn staff or visitors, though visitors are subject to searches.
AnsweredQoN 938Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
PRISONS
— STAFF DRUG TESTING
938. Hon PETER COLLIER to the minister representing the
Minister for Corrective Services:
(1) Do all staff employed in Western Australian prisons
undergo drug testing?
(2) If yes to (1), how often; and, if no to (1), why not?
(3) Do all visitors to Western Australian prisons undergo
drug testing?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
— STAFF DRUG TESTING
938. Hon PETER COLLIER to the minister representing the
Minister for Corrective Services:
(1) Do all staff employed in Western Australian prisons
undergo drug testing?
(2) If yes to (1), how often; and, if no to (1), why not?
(3) Do all visitors to Western Australian prisons undergo
drug testing?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this
question. The following information has been provided to me by the Minister for
Corrective Services.
The Department of Justice advise —
(1)–(2) Drug testing of staff employed in
correctional facilities is undertaken pursuant to the Prisons (Prison Officers Drug and Alcohol Testing) Regulations 2016 and the Young Offenders (Custodial
Officers Drug and Alcohol Testing) Regulations 2016. Sworn officers are subject
to compulsory drug and alcohol testing that
is undertaken by the people, culture and standards division. Unsworn staff are
not subject to compulsory testing. The people, culture and standards
division has a dedicated staff drug and alcohol testing team that conducts
random, targeted and mandated drug testing at all corrections facilities on an
ongoing basis.
(3)–(4) Visitors
are not subject to drug testing, though they may be subjected to searching and
screening in accordance with legislation and departmental policies and
procedures.
question. The following information has been provided to me by the Minister for
Corrective Services.
The Department of Justice advise —
(1)–(2) Drug testing of staff employed in
correctional facilities is undertaken pursuant to the Prisons (Prison Officers Drug and Alcohol Testing) Regulations 2016 and the Young Offenders (Custodial
Officers Drug and Alcohol Testing) Regulations 2016. Sworn officers are subject
to compulsory drug and alcohol testing that
is undertaken by the people, culture and standards division. Unsworn staff are
not subject to compulsory testing. The people, culture and standards
division has a dedicated staff drug and alcohol testing team that conducts
random, targeted and mandated drug testing at all corrections facilities on an
ongoing basis.
(3)–(4) Visitors
are not subject to drug testing, though they may be subjected to searching and
screening in accordance with legislation and departmental policies and
procedures.
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