❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice regarding drug testing of Department of Corrective Services employees between 2016 and 2018, including the number of tests, positive results, and the department's policy on positive tests. The response details the number of employees tested, positive results, the department's zero-tolerance approach, and the status of employees who tested positive.
AnsweredQoN 4486Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) How many Department of Corrective Services employees were drug tested during the following years: (a) 2016/17; and (b) 2017/18? (2) How many employees returned positive drug tests during the following financial years: (a) 2016/17; and (b) 2017/18? (3) How many drug tests in total of Department of Corrective Services employees were undertaken during the following financial years: (a) 2016/17; and (b) 2017/182016/17? (4) Of these drug tests, how many came back positive for illicit drugs during each of the following financial years: (a) 2016/17; and (b) 2017/18? (5) What is the ramification of a positive test, e.g. does the Department have a zero tolerance or one strike, two strikes or three strikes policy? (6) Are any of the employees who have produced a positive drug test still working for the Department, if so how many? (7) Who undertakes the Department’s drug testing of staff?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
14 March 2019
Responded by
Minister for Corrective Services
Response time
8 days
1. The number of Corrective Services employees drug tested as follows:
Year
Employees tested
2016
364
2017
128
2018
426
918
2. How many employees returned positive drug tests during the following financial years:
Year
Positive tests
%
2016
2
0.55%
2017
4
3.12%
2018
5
1.17%
11
3. As per question 1.
4. As per question 2.
5. The Department has a zero tolerance approach towards prohibited drugs. Each positive test result is assessed and responded to on a case by case basis.
6. There are four officers subject to internal investigation after testing positive to prohibited drugs (in 2018). The officers are all currently suspended from duty and precluded from attending all workplaces whilst the investigations and disciplinary processes are progressing.
All other officers who had returned positive drug tests resigned, prior to the outcome of disciplinary proceedings being finalised.
7. The Department utilises the capacity of a number of suitably trained and qualified staff in Corrective Services. The Department also has the ability to draw on the capacity and capabilities of an external service provider, as required.
Year
Employees tested
2016
364
2017
128
2018
426
918
2. How many employees returned positive drug tests during the following financial years:
Year
Positive tests
%
2016
2
0.55%
2017
4
3.12%
2018
5
1.17%
11
3. As per question 1.
4. As per question 2.
5. The Department has a zero tolerance approach towards prohibited drugs. Each positive test result is assessed and responded to on a case by case basis.
6. There are four officers subject to internal investigation after testing positive to prohibited drugs (in 2018). The officers are all currently suspended from duty and precluded from attending all workplaces whilst the investigations and disciplinary processes are progressing.
All other officers who had returned positive drug tests resigned, prior to the outcome of disciplinary proceedings being finalised.
7. The Department utilises the capacity of a number of suitably trained and qualified staff in Corrective Services. The Department also has the ability to draw on the capacity and capabilities of an external service provider, as required.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.