❓ WA Parliamentary Question on Notice regarding drug testing of prison officers in 2022, revealing numbers of presumptive positive tests, medical justifications, and resulting actions. Few officers tested positive, and most had medical justifications.
AnsweredQoN 816Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
CORRECTIVE SERVICES —
PRISON OFFICERS — DRUG TESTING
816. Hon Dr BRIAN WALKER to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Corrective Services:
I
refer the minister to the Prisons (Prison Officers Drug and Alcohol Testing)
Regulations 2016, as currently in force.
(1) How many presumptive positive
tests have been recorded by WA prison officers for —
(a) methamphetamine;
(b) benzodiazepines;
(c) opioids; and
(d) THC this calendar year?
(2) How many
prison officers returning a presumptive positive test in each of those
categories provided a medical certificate to justify their use?
(3) How many prison officers, if
any, have been —
(a) referred to the department's
employee welfare unit for a review;
(b) had managerial interventions
imposed;
(c) had removal action initiated
against them; or
(d) had their
permit to do high-level security work under section 15P of the act revoked,
again in this calendar year?
(4) How many
prison officers have resigned in this calendar year before any of the above
actions could be undertaken as the result of them having returned a presumptive
positive test?
PRISON OFFICERS — DRUG TESTING
816. Hon Dr BRIAN WALKER to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Corrective Services:
I
refer the minister to the Prisons (Prison Officers Drug and Alcohol Testing)
Regulations 2016, as currently in force.
(1) How many presumptive positive
tests have been recorded by WA prison officers for —
(a) methamphetamine;
(b) benzodiazepines;
(c) opioids; and
(d) THC this calendar year?
(2) How many
prison officers returning a presumptive positive test in each of those
categories provided a medical certificate to justify their use?
(3) How many prison officers, if
any, have been —
(a) referred to the department's
employee welfare unit for a review;
(b) had managerial interventions
imposed;
(c) had removal action initiated
against them; or
(d) had their
permit to do high-level security work under section 15P of the act revoked,
again in this calendar year?
(4) How many
prison officers have resigned in this calendar year before any of the above
actions could be undertaken as the result of them having returned a presumptive
positive test?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) (a) Nil;
(b) six;
(c) 11;
(d) one.
(2) (a) Not applicable;
(b) six;
(c) 10—one had used their
partner's medication;
(d) nil.
(3) (a) One—benzodiazepine
DATB20220704-01 took more than prescribed dose.
(b)–(d) nil.
(4) One, of THC.
some notice of the question.
(1) (a) Nil;
(b) six;
(c) 11;
(d) one.
(2) (a) Not applicable;
(b) six;
(c) 10—one had used their
partner's medication;
(d) nil.
(3) (a) One—benzodiazepine
DATB20220704-01 took more than prescribed dose.
(b)–(d) nil.
(4) One, of THC.
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