❓ Question on Notice regarding drug-related prosecutions in WA courts receives a partial answer. Detailed data request deemed too resource-intensive to fulfill, but information on prosecutor involvement is provided.
AnsweredQoN 549Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
For each of the financial years 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24, 2024–25, and year-to-date 2025–26: (a) How many prosecutions were commenced in Western Australian courts for drug-related offences, broken down by: (i) possession; (ii) trafficking; and (iii) manufacturing or supply; (b) How many prosecutions for drug-related offences resulted in convictions; (c) How many prosecutions were withdrawn or resulted in acquittals; (d) Of the convictions recorded for drug-related offences, how many resulted in: (i) custodial sentences; (ii) suspended sentences; (iii) community-based orders; and (iv) fines; (e) As at the date of this question, how many drug-related matters are currently before the courts and awaiting resolution; (f) How many prosecutors within the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions are currently assigned to drug-related matters; and (g) What proportion of their workload is attributable to these prosecutions?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
16 September 2025
Responded by
Minister for Attorney General
Response time
4 days
(a)-(e). The Member is requesting a significant amount of information and detail for a considerable period of time. The information requested is not readily available and collecting it would divert staff away from their normal duties and is not considered to be a reasonable or appropriate use of government resources.
(f). As at 2 September 2025, approximately 70% of Prosecutors within the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions had a case in which at least one of the charges was a drug-related charge.
(g). One way the proportion of ‘workload’ can be represented for drug-related matters is by the number of prosecution cases, which may involve multiple charges, with at least one drug charge. This is approximately 23%. Workload is influenced by a number of factors, including case complexity, number of co-accused and volume of evidentiary material, all of which are ordinarily present in serious drug related matters.
(f). As at 2 September 2025, approximately 70% of Prosecutors within the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions had a case in which at least one of the charges was a drug-related charge.
(g). One way the proportion of ‘workload’ can be represented for drug-related matters is by the number of prosecution cases, which may involve multiple charges, with at least one drug charge. This is approximately 23%. Workload is influenced by a number of factors, including case complexity, number of co-accused and volume of evidentiary material, all of which are ordinarily present in serious drug related matters.
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