❓ Details the number of incidents involving prohibited weapons on WA public school premises across three terms in 2025, including a breakdown by weapon type and suspension/exclusion data. Suspensions data is unavailable.
AnsweredQoN 882Legislative 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 terms: (a) Term 3, 2025; (b) Term 2, 2025; and (c) Term 1, 2025? (2) For each of the different categories of prohibited weapons, please provide a breakdown of how many were brought onto WA public school premises in each of the school terms listed in (1)(a-c)? (3) How many students have been suspended and/or excluded (please list separately) for possession of a prohibited weapon in WA public schools in each of the school terms listed in (1)(a-c)?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
2 December 2025
Responded by
Minister for Education
Response time
12 days
Answer
(1)
(a)Term 3, 2025
10
(b) Term 2, 2025
10
(c) Term 1, 2025
11
(2)
Item
Prohibited Weapon
(a)
Term 3, 2025
(b)
Term 2, 2025
(c)
Term 1, 2025
1
Acoustic shock weapon
0
0
0
1A
Airsoft gun
1
0
1
2
Ballistic knife
0
0
0
3
Blow pipe
0
0
0
4
Butterfly knife
1
0
3
5
Catapult (with an arm brace)*
4
1
0
6
Commercially produced catapult (without an arm brace)
0
0
0
7A
Crossbow
0
0
0
7
Disguised knife or sword
1
1
1
8
Electric shock weapon
0
2
1
9
Electromagnetic weapon
0
0
0
10
Extendable baton
0
0
0
10A
Flamethrower
0
0
0
11
Flick knife or Switchblade
1
4
4
11A
Gas dart
0
0
0
11B
Gel blaster
1
1
0
12
Knuckle dusters
0
0
0
13
Knuckle knife
0
1
0
15
Spray weapon (other than a capsicum spray weapon)
1
0
0
16
Spud gun
0
0
1
* All catapult incidents have been recorded under item 5 due to insufficient detail to determine between items 5 and 6.
(3)
Suspensions:
The Department is unable to provide this information. Suspension due to possession of a prohibited weapon is not recorded in a discreet category.
Exclusions:
No students were excluded for possession of a prohibited weapon in WA public schools during Terms 1, 2 and 3 in 2025.
While a prohibited weapon may be brought to school or involved in an incident or incidents, this does not necessarily mean that a student has breached the School Education Act 1999 section 91(a)(i). Under this section 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”.
(1)
(a)Term 3, 2025
10
(b) Term 2, 2025
10
(c) Term 1, 2025
11
(2)
Item
Prohibited Weapon
(a)
Term 3, 2025
(b)
Term 2, 2025
(c)
Term 1, 2025
1
Acoustic shock weapon
0
0
0
1A
Airsoft gun
1
0
1
2
Ballistic knife
0
0
0
3
Blow pipe
0
0
0
4
Butterfly knife
1
0
3
5
Catapult (with an arm brace)*
4
1
0
6
Commercially produced catapult (without an arm brace)
0
0
0
7A
Crossbow
0
0
0
7
Disguised knife or sword
1
1
1
8
Electric shock weapon
0
2
1
9
Electromagnetic weapon
0
0
0
10
Extendable baton
0
0
0
10A
Flamethrower
0
0
0
11
Flick knife or Switchblade
1
4
4
11A
Gas dart
0
0
0
11B
Gel blaster
1
1
0
12
Knuckle dusters
0
0
0
13
Knuckle knife
0
1
0
15
Spray weapon (other than a capsicum spray weapon)
1
0
0
16
Spud gun
0
0
1
* All catapult incidents have been recorded under item 5 due to insufficient detail to determine between items 5 and 6.
(3)
Suspensions:
The Department is unable to provide this information. Suspension due to possession of a prohibited weapon is not recorded in a discreet category.
Exclusions:
No students were excluded for possession of a prohibited weapon in WA public schools during Terms 1, 2 and 3 in 2025.
While a prohibited weapon may be brought to school or involved in an incident or incidents, this does not necessarily mean that a student has breached the School Education Act 1999 section 91(a)(i). Under this section 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”.
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